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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

THE National Building Society (NBS) has set aside close to US$3 million for low-cost housing projects for civil servants in Bulawayo, with more financial resources set to be unlocked as Government continues to urge pension funds to also venture into housing for citizens.

NBS managing director Mr Mahlangu

Established to contribute to the National Housing Stock and support Government programmes, NBS implements housing projects across Zimbabwe, including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Plumtree, Mutare and Chinhoyi.

Committed to contributing to the National Development Strategy 1, NBS offers affordable housing solutions aligning with the Government’s goal of providing modern and accessible housing for all by 2030.

A few years ago, NBS partnered with local authorities nationwide to deliver low-cost housing and reduce the national housing backlog exceeding 1.5 million.

A subsidiary of the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), the bank rolled out the Accelerated Presidential Housing Scheme that is being implemented by Hawkflight Properties and Maharba Properties for civil servants on the outskirts of Bulawayo as part of the 100-day cycle projects.

The ground-breaking for the project was conducted recently and is expected to deliver about 4 000 housing units shared equally between Hawkflight and Maharba in  Emthunzini and west of Nkulumane 12 suburb.

The two schemes target civil servants on a zero deposit model, as the Second Republic continues the drive towards Vision 2030 where affordable and decent housing is part of non-monetary benefits.

NBS is spearheading the project with financing from NSSA pension funds.

Dr Shava, NSSA General manager

NBS general manager Mr Sifiso Mahlangu said the bank had positioned itself as a development partner in housing.

“As NBS we have managed to be part of this development. Maharba and Hawkflight have provided land and we provide funding. It goes with the call of what we do which is to provide housing and also about productive partnerships which is consistent with the aspirations of our nation.

“Initially we put in US$2.5 million to fund the first batch of 250 houses and we do believe that given the financial structure that we want to put in place, we should be able to provide sufficient funding to see the provision of housing countrywide,” said Mr Mahlangu in an interview in Bulawayo recently.

He said countrywide the bank was looking at launching land development in Mathendele in Plumtree where 288 stands will be developed and Mutare where 153 houses will be commissioned.

NSSA is developing about 720 stands at Batanai Gardens 720 where 360 houses will be built beginning next year, said Mr Mahlangu.

He said: “We believe that our signature projects like Dzivarasekwa bring testament to our resolve to make sure that we put a roof over citizens to empower the population of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, July Moyo who presided over the groundbreaking challenged pension funds to partner Government in housing provision.

“We have been engaging State pension funds to join giving money through the building society so that we can speed up civil servants accessing funds to build and own houses for their families. Pensions must put their money where their mouth is because they pay pensions to them. There are pension schemes like Railways, who had pension schemes, pension schemes should also get into housing because they have to build affordable houses for their pensioners

“We need it to start building affordable houses so that we can house our people.

I told Ecowas recently, if you don’t manage your pension schemes, if you don’t start building houses now, you will collapse,” said Minister Moyo.

NSSA general manager Dr Charles Shava said NBS we deliberately set up as an investment arm to deliver housing on behalf of NSSA.

“We are excited about what is happening and we will continue to fund them to help develop the country. This is one of the many projects that we are doing. We believe this is a very good project to provide housing and contribute to national development focusing on the national housing cluster,” he said.

— @ncubeleon