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Latiso Dlamini

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Civil Protection Unit (CPU) is in the process of engaging the army in the construction of 319 houses for the Tsholotsho floods victims and has also sought new tents to shelter villagers during this rainy season.

This comes as the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has failed to meet its deadline for the construction of houses.

The Ministry had set a November deadline for the construction of the houses in Tshino and Sawudweni Villages catering for over 800 villagers who were affected by the floods earlier this year.

In an interview, Matabeleland North Provincial Administrator, Ms Latiso Dlamini, said the construction of houses for Tsholotsho floods victim was stalled by a shortage of resources.

Government has now asked for tents from Red Cross in full view that the houses will not be completed during this rainy season.

“We have engaged various stakeholders in particular Red Cross and they have given us tents, stronger tents since those old ones are now torn. We requested for fresh tents in full view that the construction of houses is yet to be completed. We are also in the process of engaging the army for the construction of houses as it was suggested by Cde Mathema (Cain, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North),” said Ms Dlamini.

She said shortage of resources was hampering the completion of the construction of houses.

Ms Dlamini said to address the challenges, public works officials from Bulawayo have joined their Matabeleland North counterparts.

“But we’ve to consider that it was always going to be difficult to complete such a massive project in such a short time. Where were the resources going to come from in that short period? The shortage of resources slowed the progress. We also had a water challenge, there are few water bodies in Matabeleland North so they were drawing water from faraway places which also affected the progress of the programme,” said Ms Dlamini.

“We were using one province, Matabeleland North, but now we are using public works offices for Bulawayo and Matabeleland North. They are now assisting each other in the construction of the houses.” — @nqotshili