The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT remains committed to empowering youths through designing adequate and affordable housing projects that require little collateral, Minister of Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire has said.
Speaking during the Manicaland Housing Project launch in Chipinge today (Friday) on behalf of Minister Machakaire, his deputy, Honourable Kuda Mupamhanga, said the project will go a long way in ensuring that youths get empowered through decent accommodation.
“This project is all about developing Chipinge Town while at the same time guaranteeing adequate accommodation for the youths. Where one used to rent, they now have their own residential stand and will no longer be forking out rentals monthly. These are the results President Mnangagwa and Government are expecting as we stand guided by the National Development Strategy (NDS1) and Vision 2030,” he said.
45 residential stands were allocated.
A total of 3 600 youths are expected to benefit from the housing project through the allocation of residential stands in Chipinge Town’s Ratviel Farm, with even more expected to get a shot in the arm from other housing projects across the district.
Minister Machakaire said the Manicaland Youth League should be applauded for spearheading the project, which compliments Government’s efforts in attaining an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income society through Vision 2030.
“We salute you for answering President Mnangagwa’s call for young people to be empowered. You were disciplined and well-organised and should be applauded for that.
“You have successfully implemented the policies of leaving no one and no place behind as well as the country’s NDS1. By putting the such policies into action, you have proven that Zimbabweans are better together than alone,” he said.
Minister Machakaire said his Ministrybacks the project and will assist with decentralising it to other provinces.
He said the decentralisation to all provinces will ensure that youths across the country benefit from affordable housing and residential stands.
Minister Machakaire urged the youths to apply for easily accessible loans from Empower Bank and advised them to be financially disciplined.
One of the beneficiaries signs an offer letter
The youths were required to pay $260 to Chipinge Town Council as title survey funds before being allocated their residential stands. However, most had not paid due to financial constraints and fear falling prey to unscrupulous land barons.
“I advise every youth on the list to apply for loans at Empower Bank and pay up the funds for title surveying that are required by council. This is because it is now very clear that land barons are not involved in this project. It is authentic as money is being paid directly to council. Government has also endorsed this project,” said Minister Machakaire.
He said as a Ministry, they will continue sourcing funds for the youth bank to ensure that everyone benefits.
In an interview, Youth quota Member of Parliament and Zanu PF Manicaland Youth League provincial chair, Honourable Stanley Sakupwanya, said the project was successful and would be decentralised to other districts in the province.
“The scheme has started officially and one thing that we are happy about is in the first phase, 500 residential stands have been pegged already and the next phase is about to start soon. It is going to proceed in batches of 500 until all the 3 600 residential stands have been allocated to the beneficiaries. Today was just a demonstration where a sample of 45 youths were shown their residential stands in the presence of the Minister and council officials,” he said.
Beneficiaries applauded Honourable Sakupwanya for driving the housing project whose taking off had taken long.
Chipinge Town Council Sscretary, Mr James Mutemera, described the project as authentic and urged the beneficiaries to pay up so that they get allocated their residential stands.
He said 80 percent of the residential stands will benefit the youths, while the remainder will benefit council.
“We are urging the beneficiaries to pay up the title surveying funds so that they start developing the residential stands. We want empowered youths who are productive. The money is being paid to Council. That alone proves that this is authentic and being done above board,” he said.
Beneficiaries showered Honourable Sakupwanya with praises for ensuring that project takes off.
“I have secured a residential stand after years of trying to get one. I had started believing that it would never come true as the project kept being put off since 2017. I am so grateful that now I own land and guaranteed that even if I die today, my children will have somewhere to call home. Thank you so much, Honourable Sakupwanya,” said a beneficiary, Miss Evidence Mutema.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Forget Mupoma, hailed Government for ensuring that the allocation of their stands is swift.
