Mavima pushes partnerships to unlock housing delivery

By staff reporter

National Housing and Social Amenities minister Paul Mavima has called for an aggressive, partnership-driven approach to address Zimbabwe’s housing deficit, urging stakeholders to embrace innovation and collaboration to meet national targets.

Speaking at an Inaugural High Level Housing and Social amenities stakeholders’ dinner yesterday, Mavima outlined an ambitious roadmap centred on accelerating the delivery of affordable and decent housing across both urban and rural communities.

“Accelerated delivery of affordable and decent housing units to meet the growing demand across urban and rural areas. Upgrading informal settlements into planned, serviced and dignified communities. Expansion of social amenities such as schools, clinics, recreational facilities and water and sanitation infrastructure to ensure holistic community development,” he said.

The event was running under the theme: Building together, Operationalising NDS2 for Housing and Social Amenities.

Mavima emphasised that housing development must go beyond structures, incorporating essential services that support sustainable communities.

“Promotion of inclusive housing policies that cater for vulnerable groups, including low-income households, women, youths and persons with disabilities. These goals are about dignity and creating environments where Zimbabweans can thrive, as mandated by our national Constitution, which identifies shelter as a basic human right,” Mavima said.

To achieve these goals, he stressed the need for a multi-pronged strategy, anchored on strong collaboration between government and the private sector.

“Public-private partnerships and commercial joint ventures must form the core strategy for increased housing delivery and for the sector to attain the NDS2 target of one million housing units by 2030,” he said.Mavima warned that relying solely on government efforts would stall progress.“

I want to make it very clear to you as our stakeholders that if we wait for the delivery of housing units by government alone, we will not go far. But if we work with the strategy of commercial joint ventures and public-private partnerships, we will definitely surpass the one million target that we have given ourselves until 2030.”He expressed confidence in the capacity of local contractors and developers, noting that government’s role should be to create an enabling environment.

“I am very, very confident. I have seen the capacities that a lot of our contractors and developers have. What remains is for us as government to really facilitate and make sure that we create the environment that will make you deliver seamlessly,” he said.

Addressing concerns around financing, Mavima dismissed claims of a funding gap in the housing sector, arguing that the issue lies in outdated perspectives.

“I heard, as I was coming in, people talking of the funding gap. I don’t think it’s there. I really don’t think it’s there. I think it only exists in the traditional way that we have viewed the housing market,” he said.

The minister highlighted land allocation for housing as one of Zimbabwe’s most impactful empowerment initiatives, noting its role in unlocking entrepreneurial opportunities.

“Land for housing development has been one of the fastest empowerment programmes for entrepreneurs in this country. Through that medium, we have created potential, also driven by the diaspora population that has become so interested in investing in the real estate sector in this country,” he said.

Mavima also pointed to untapped financial resources within pension funds and other institutions, urging government to adopt a more progressive and flexible stance to unlock investment.

“When we put together these elements, and when we realise that there are savings that exist in our pension funds and in our other financial institutions, we as government, we have to let go of whatever teasing. We have to embrace a much more progressive outlook,” he said.

Zimbabwe continues to face a significant housing backlog, with rapid urbanisation increasing pressure on existing infrastructure.

The government has set an ambitious target under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) to deliver one million housing units by 2030, a goal that authorities say will require coordinated efforts across multiple sectors.