Trust Freddy-Senior Reporter
PRIVATE developers overcharging for land allocated by the State will have their land agreements cancelled, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Professor Paul Mavima warned yesterday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with a visiting Rwandan delegation that paid a courtesy call on him, Prof Mavima said the Government was concerned by developers who acquired State land at affordable intrinsic values, but charged exorbitant prices to final home buyers.
The final cost of land under a house or block of flats comprises the intrinsic value of the land, the share of servicing costs for roads, water, sewage, and power infrastructure, and the developer’s mark-up. Stands become artificially expensive when this mark-up is excessive.
“Related to that is the issue where basically we sell land or give land to the private sector. They pay for the intrinsic value of the land, which is fairly affordable, but sometimes you encounter unscrupulous developers who then charge an arm and a leg for the land,” he said.
“This is a matter that is very concerning to the Ministry. And the Ministry is putting on notice all the developers who take advantage of the land that they have been given by Government and overcharge the beneficiaries.
“We will not hesitate to cancel the agreements that we may have done or entered into with the private sector if they behave in such a manner.”
Prof Mavima emphasised that housing can only be affordable if the baseline cost of land is controlled.
“We are calling for decent, affordable housing. It cannot be affordable if the land is overcharged,” he said.
The three-member Rwandan delegation is in the country for a six-day exchange under a memorandum of understanding on housing development signed in Kigali.
The agreement provides for peer learning and bilateral cooperation in housing delivery.
The delegation is led by the Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority, Mr Nsanzineza Noel, who is accompanied by the Head of Social and Affordable Housing Development, Mr Ahabwe Emmanuel, and the Senior Urban Development Economist and Focal Point for the MOU, Mr Kananga Eric.
Mr Nsanzineza said partnership and cooperation are the cornerstones of nations in the provision of sustainable housing. His delegation will visit various construction sites and interact with corporates, Government departments, and ministries to share experiences across the housing value chain.
On Rwanda’s model, he explained that their government utilises public-private partnerships where the State subsidises public infrastructure— such as roads, land, electricity, and water —to reduce costs, while the private sector participates as developers. Rwanda is also working on a National Housing Fund to meet an annual demand of roughly 150 000 houses and flats.
Prof Mavima stated that Zimbabwe values Rwanda’s experience in social housing delivery, institutional arrangements, and climate-resilient technologies. He said Zimbabwe will draw lessons from Rwanda’s well-functioning housing development corporation as it redevelops its own Urban Development Corporation (UDCORP), with legislative benchmarking from Botswana and Kenya also informing new legislation.
In return, Zimbabwe will share its Human Settlements Policy and projects being implemented under the national mantra Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, including Dzivaresekwa Extension, Madokero, and Knock Mallock, which showcase on-site infrastructure solutions, bio-digesters, and localised water delivery systems.
Concurrently, Prof Mavima assured the public that the Government remained on course to meeting its housing delivery target for the year.
“On the issue of the target for this year, we are on course to reaching the 200 000 that we have to reach this year. By the first half of 2026, we had achieved 95 000, which is very close to half of what we want to achieve by the end of the year. So I am very confident that the Ministry will reach that target,” he concluded.
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