Harare vows to reduce housing backlog

via Harare vows to reduce housing backlog – DailyNews Live by Helen Kadrire  13 OCTOBER 2013  

Harare City Council says it will fight to provide decent accommodation and reduce the housing backlog, currently pegged at 500 000 home seekers.

Charles Nyatsuro, chairperson of the housing and community services committee, told journalists after the constituting of standing committees of council that his team will push for land to develop residential stands for the poor and cut the huge housing backlog.

“We plan to carry on with some of the projects that were developed and initiated during the past council which was led by Muchadeyi Masunda which include the Cabs deal,” Nyatsuro said.

According to the Cabs housing scheme, Old Mutual, through its banking wing Cabs, will fund the construction of 3 102 core houses worth $15 million in the high density suburb of Budiriro.

The houses are intended for low-income earners and will be built over two years and will cost an estimated $12 000 each.

Peter Moyo, the council chief whip, said the elected committee chairpersons should act accordingly and deliver.

“We want them to deliver agendas that provide service delivery to the people. Councillors will give them agendas which need to be discussed and they should deliver results expediently,” Moyo said.

He highlighted that chairpersons must follow-up on resolutions made in meetings.

Moyo indicated that the newly-elected chairpersons should ensure resolutions agreed upon should be achieved and if not they should state why and how best to alleviate the situation.

“These chairs should also be able to understand written agendas and point out of there is an error. They should identify faults otherwise they defeat the purpose of being a chairperson,” he said.