The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
MORE than 15 000 health workers are set to benefit from a land deal struck by the Health Ambassadors for Economic Development with 120 members having benefited so far in lower Rangemore suburb under Umguza Rural District Council.
Co-founder of Health Workers for ED, Mr Ganizani Phiri said the initiative was meant to empower health workers with land to build safe and affordable accommodation.
“The programme was informed by the need to ensure that health workers have access to land to build houses. So we identified land from developers and we got some in Umguza Rural District Council first. Our members paid an initial deposit and the process of acquiring documentation started. It is a genuine programme and so far 120 workers in Bulawayo have since secured the stands,” said Mr Phiri.
The association said after paying the deposit and being allocated the land, they were then registered with the rural district council that has since availed documentation and their members were already paying rates to the council.
He said they were working with a land developer in Bulawayo who is funding the construction of houses for the workers who have been given 15 to 20 years to complete the payments for the houses.
“We are however, still seeking more developers in all provinces in the country so that our members can pay in instalments and get houses eventually. The response has been tremendous and we are now at the servicing phase in Lower Rangemore and in May we are planning to start construction. We are going to get title deeds for all home owners when houses are constructed,” said Mr Phiri.
For the first phase of the project, Mr Phiri said three-bedroomed houses will be constructed in a gated community set up including security booms at the entrance of the estates. The association also said they plan to install a Wi-Fi tower for residents for reliable and easy access to the internet.
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