mbulelo smpofu
Blessings Chidakwa, Harare Bureau
ALL councils must ensure strict compliance with building laws as competing interests over land and planning overlays must never be tolerated, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Speaking during the commissioning of Zimbabwe Defence Forces houses and utility vehicles in Dzivaresekwa, Harare, President Mnangagwa said all human settlements must always be accompanied by basic services such as roads, water and sanitation.
He said his Government was facilitating the provision of housing, which is a basic and fundamental need.
President Mnangagwa said stakeholders in the housing and built environment space had to play their part towards accelerating the realisation of national targets by working together towards addressing the housing backlog.
“Equally, our human settlements must always be accompanied by basic services, including roads, recreational, education and health facilities as well as water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Competing interests over land and planning overlays must never be tolerated. Urban and rural local authorities are urged to ensure strict compliance with building laws and standards”. President Mnangagwa said his Government would continue to facilitate an enabling environment, including advancing legislative and policy measures to enable all to have access to adequate shelter.
“To date, the recapitalisation of the Housing Guarantee and National Housing Fund has been considered in the 2025 National Budget. Hence, today, we celebrate yet another milestone that is more than brick and mortar, but also a show of my Government’s unwavering commitment to provide modern, safe and affordable housing for both public sector employees as well as citizens in general.”
President Mnangagwa said the quality of the completed houses being commissioned attested to the professionalism, ingenuity and competency of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Construction Regiment.
“It is pleasing that the ZDF has shifted from conventional brick-and-mortar houses to a new cheaper, cleaner, climate-smart and sustainable building technology.
“The approach must see more houses being speedily constructed, resulting in many more families being accommodated,” he said.
President Mnangagwa, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the ZDF, said the peace, security and defence of the nation remained fundamental requisites and catalysts for economic transformation, enabling all sectors and the general public to engage in productive economic activities.
This, he said, was guaranteed by a security sector which was not distracted by accommodation issues.
“This further assures them of higher levels of professional dignity, while inculcating broader military norms and value systems as well as encouraging greater bonding, unity, and spirit of military camaraderie among the members.
“In addition, the availability of institutional accommodation is vital for maintaining operational efficiencies, including enabling our national army to coordinate quickly and efficiently react in cases of emergencies and disasters,” the President said.
He urged the Ministry of Defence to expand the construction regiment and appropriately equip that strategic unit so that it increases its efficiency and capabilities in the construction field.
“In addition, the training of service personnel to possess qualifications, skills and experience in the various construction and engineering fields should be pursued,” President Mnangagwa said.
“This should help augment our ongoing public sector construction initiatives, while allowing private contractors to focus more on industrial as well as other vital national installations such as dams, roads and energy infrastructure, among others.”
Innovative financing solutions and partnerships had to be developed towards supporting as well as speeding up the ongoing and planned massive construction of barracks.
This includes accommodation at the Jaison Ziyapapa Moyo Barracks, Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks and 2 Presidential Guards Battalion HQ, 33 Infantry Battalion in Chipinge and 13 Infantry Battalion in Plumtree, among others.
President Mnangagwa also challenged all beneficiaries of the institutional accommodation and accompanying facilities both at Dzivaresekwa and Imbizo Barracks to be good stewards over the properties including taking adequate measures to beautify the surrounding environment.
“The ambience of working and living spaces in all cantonment areas across the country must be deliberately spruced up and where necessary, modernised,” he said.
President Mnangagwa reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to build a future where the Defence Forces were well looked after and adequately equipped to defend the nation, as well as capacitated to realise fulfilling careers.
To the officers, men and women of the ZDF, including the construction regiment, President Mnangagwa applauded them for their hard work and professionalism, which led to the realisation of the milestone of decent accommodation and other projects within the Defence Forces, across provinces and districts.
The President also expressed profound appreciation to stakeholders in the construction sector who have contributed to the successes realised to date. However, he said, more work is yet to be done towards increasing the country’s housing stock.
