Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Government has received an overwhelming response to the Home Ownership Scheme, a new housing pay scheme for low and middle class earners, a senior official has said.
As of Wednesday, hundreds of people had already registered while more were still coming to do so.
Under the programme, Government would build high rise flats and service land for sale to people on the housing waiting list.
The director of national housing and social amenities in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Mr Lexton Kuwanda, said there was a huge appetite for houses.
“In the last two days more than 500 people have registered. They were collecting forms which cost $2. The forms also outline the requirements needed for one to qualify for the programme. Vetting will be done in conjunction with financial institutions. “People are tired of being swindled by land barons and dubious estate agents. They now want a programme where the central Government is involved because it is authoritative and transparent,” he said. He said there were 1 500 serialised forms which would be given to potential beneficiaries of the first phase of the project to be carried out in Dzivaresekwa and Mabvuku.
The programme was introduced to protect home-seekers from bogus housing cooperatives and land developers who fleeced home-seekers millions of dollars parcelling out land illegally.
It is anchored on beneficiary contributions to leverage finance while the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry will provide land and infrastructure.
On Monday this week, Government flighted adverts inviting those interested to register their interest with the ministry and start contributing towards the projects.
The contributions will be channelled through banks to service stands or construct houses or flats. Under the new scheme, beneficiaries will only be allowed to take occupation of the stands or housing units once the land is fully serviced or houses fully constructed.
Engagement of specialised civil and building contractors will be done through the ministry’s tendering system, picking from a list of contractors registered with the ministry.
The two-bedroomed flats in Tafara and Budiriro will be sold at $42 000.
Beneficiaries are expected to pay a deposit of $5 000 and pay the remainder over a period of up to 20 years.
Harare province is expected to deliver 105 935 houses by 2018 under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) while 313 000 housing units are expected countrywide.