Housing scheme dumped by govt

A cabinet minister with the cash-strapped government, Fidelis Mhashu, sold the project transfer deal to city fathers who converged in Harare last Wednesday. The majority of the city fathers disapproved of the idea since the project was launched as a political weapon, to benefit Zanu (PF) supporters at the expense of MDC followers.

Garikai-Hlalani Kuhle is a thinly veiled cover up project, meant to hoodwink the international community that, the more than 700 000 people displaced by Operation Murambatsvina were sheltered by government. What makes the project transfer offer ridiculous is that, government wants to sell the scheme to municipalities at undisclosed amount of dollars. Council material was used in constructing the poorly built houses. Now the inclusive government wants cash to change hands for the deal to be sealed, said a town mayor who attended the Harare meeting.

As city fathers, we can not accept the offer as local authorities are already over burdened with other commitments. The ministry of local government under Zanu (PF) minister Ignatius Chombo, wants to use MDC minister Mhashus ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities, to off load the failed housing project. Clearly Garikai-Hlalani Kuhle is a housing scheme for Zanu (PF) supporters. Instead of putting the project under local authorities, it must be funded by Zanu (PF), said another city father.

He said it would be an insult, for rate payers money to be channelled towards the development of Zanu (PF) supporters residential suburbs.

Two roomed houses constructed nationwide under the scheme are substandard. They lack water and electricity facilities. In Marondera, 500 Zanu (PF)-supporting families who benefited from the second phase of the project, were allocated un-serviced stands.

Beneficiaries are digging shallow pit latrines and erecting wooden cabins on site. The site resembles a shanty town in the making.