AS Zimbabwe grapples with a growing housing deficit, the government is intensifying efforts to expand access to decent, affordable and secure accommodation. Recently appointed National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Paul Mavima (PM) says his ministry’s immediate focus is to deliver an additional one million housing units by 2030, building on gains made under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). Beyond increasing the housing stock, Mavima is prioritising the regularisation of informal settlements, acceleration of title deed issuance, promotion of social housing for vulnerable groups and the development of a comprehensive housing finance strategy to improve affordability. He also says public-private partnerships, pension fund participation and innovative financing models will be critical in mobilising the resources required to address the country’s housing backlog. At the same time, authorities are pursuing smart city developments and broader urban renewal initiatives aimed at modernising ageing residential areas and improving service delivery. In this interview with our senior reporter Freeman Makopa (FM), Mavima outlines the government's housing priorities, funding strategies and vision for creating sustainable, world-class urban communities. But he also spoke passionately about the need to address informal settlement. Find below excerpts from the interview:
FM: What are your key priorities going forward?
PM: There are several issues that we need to address. First, as a nation, we need to develop a strategy for social housing for vulnerable and less-privileged citizens. Secondly, we must continue working towards our target of delivering one million housing units by 2030 so that we can reduce the substantial housing backlog that the country still faces. We performed well under the NDS1, having delivered about one million housing units. We now want to deliver another million. Related to this is the issue of housing finance. As a nation, we need a comprehensive housing finance strategy. We must also facilitate construction through the adoption of new technologies. This requires reforms to building codes and by-laws, as well as the introduction of a standard building code that can be applied across all local authorities in Zimbabwe. These are among key priorities requiring our attention.
FM: Tell us about informal settlements
PM: As we pursue these objectives, we must also address the issue of informal settlements, many of which have mushroomed across the country. These settlements often lack essential services. In Harare, for example, there are areas where people have settled but where roads, sewer systems and water reticulation remain inadequate. We need to ensure that places such as Caledonia, Hopley, Southley Park and Whitecliff receive the services that residents require. However, this is not only a Harare issue. It affects most urban areas across the country. We must regularise these settlements and provide the infrastructure and services that our people need. We also need to begin thinking seriously about urban renewal. Areas such as Mbare Flats in Harare, Makokoba in Bulawayo and Sakubva in Mutare require renewed attention. We need planning and architectural solutions that enable the renewal of these urban areas and ensure that people live in dignified conditions. This should be approached from a whole-of-government perspective, working closely with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and local authorities to design and implement the necessary strategies. That is the direction we intend to take.
FM: How is the government approaching the integration of informal settlements into formal urban planning systems, and are you pursuing regularisation?
PM: Regularisation is a key pillar of our strategy. The government is working to ensure that land is properly allocated, surveyed and prepared for title issuance. We must eliminate challenges such as multiple allocations and tenure insecurity. Once residents are confident that the land they occupy has been formally allocated and that there is a clear pathway to obtaining title deeds, they are more likely to contribute towards infrastructure development through the user-pay principle. People are willing to invest in roads, water and sewer systems when they have secure tenure. Resolving allocation anomalies and strengthening land rights are therefore critical first steps. It is an ambitious programme, but one that we believe can be successfully implemented.
FM: Are you planning to accelerate title deed issuance?
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PM: There is a government committee led by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which also includes the ministries of Lands, Local Government and Public Works,, and ourselves. The committee is spearheading efforts to ensure that more Zimbabweans obtain title deeds.
FM: How are you going to fund this programme?
PM: We will develop funding models that encourage the participation of financial institutions and private developers through public-private partnerships. At the same time, we must ensure that civil servants, including public servants living in cantonments, have access to decent institutional housing.
FM: We have seen increased participation by the private sector and pension funds in housing projects. Approximately how much investment has been mobilised so far, and which partnerships do you consider most strategic?
PM: There have been several notable initiatives. The National Social Security Authority, for example, has participated in housing developments, including a project in Chinhoyi. There is also a housing project under Chegutu Rural District Council near Norton that is being led by our Youth Corps. In addition, several pension funds have participated actively by acquiring stands and financing on-site infrastructure development. We are seeing that this model works. Public pension funds have also made significant contributions to student accommodation projects at various universities. They have the potential to expand their involvement into the broader housing development market. We are also witnessing the emergence of several real estate investment trusts (REITs), which have attracted substantial investment. Some have already listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange.
FM: What does this tell you about the housing market?
PM: It demonstrates that there is significant potential for financial institutions to participate in housing development.
We are also seeing developers strengthen their capacity to undertake land development projects independently. The market is performing reasonably well, and we are witnessing the return of long-term mortgage products at relatively competitive interest rates. This means people with regular incomes can approach building societies and banks for mortgage financing to develop housing units. We therefore need to continue encouraging these players to participate so that we can reduce the housing backlog while also expanding social housing provision.
FM: What reforms are being pursued to make housing finance more affordable?
PM: The ministry has tasked a team with developing a housing finance strategy.
The team is examining all aspects of housing finance, including measures that could reduce borrowing costs and encourage the availability of long-term mortgages. Addressing both the cost and duration of borrowing would help restore a more traditional mortgage market and improve affordability for people with regular incomes. We want a holistic strategy that examines incentives, policy reforms and financial sector adjustments that could enable lenders to provide more affordable housing loans.
FM: How is Zimbabwe positioning itself to develop world-class housing projects capable of attracting diaspora capital?
PM: Zimbabwe is actively pursuing several smart-city initiatives.
One of the flagship proposals is the Melfort Smart City project, which remains on the agenda, although a few land-related issues still need to be resolved. The proposal remains active, and we are working to address those outstanding matters. There is also the development of the new city, for which clear proposals have been developed and a governance structure established. A chief executive officer has already been appointed to drive the project forward. While these new developments will have a smart-city orientation, there are also private players across the country pursuing similar projects designed around world-class standards and modern amenities. At the same time, we must ensure that existing cities are modernised.
Waste management systems, roads and public transport networks all need upgrading. We must adopt a holistic approach. It is not only new settlements that should be modern and smart; our existing cities must also be transformed to meet world-class standards.
