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Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor
THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has set aside $50 million for housing development nationally and will soon re-engage the Bulawayo City Council for partnership in the provision of shelter after the local authority rejected its moves to inject $6,5 million in a stands project two years ago.
Saddled with a housing waiting list of more than 100,000 people, the council irked residents in 2012 when it rejected partnership with NSSA in a housing project that was set to benefit 900 families.

The local authority had invited NSSA to develop 882 low income stands in Luveve 5 at a cost of $2 million but NSSA came with a counter proposal to service the stands and build at least 100 houses at a cost of $6,5 million.

Rejecting the proposal, councillors cited the 2010 scenario when the local authority was forced to repossess 700 stands allocated to NSSA in Pumula South after NSSA failed to develop them within the stipulated period and that under the project council was going to play a marginal role.

Business executives quizzed NSSA general manager James Matiza during a breakfast meeting in Bulawayo on why NSSA was seen investing in housing in Masvingo, Chegutu, Shamva and Norton and seemingly sidelining the City of Kings.

“You’re aware that the land we had bought for housing in Bulawayo was repossessed and now we’re thinking on taking some alternative land,” Matiza responded.

“We’re working on 680 stands in Masvingo and after that we are coming to Bulawayo but we need their (council) co-operation. We’re going to set conditions here and may want re-instatement of our repossessed stands.”

Matiza said the government had given NSSA a task to invest in housing in line with the country’s economic blueprint Zima-Asset, which prioritises housing development.

“The government said the way we’re doing housing is slow. We are working on setting up a micro-finance bank for housing development.

“We met the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on the licensing clearance and we will be transferring $50 million to the bank to finance housing development.”

A number of desperate home seekers have remained on the waiting list for years while the few with money have resorted to engaging private developers who charge exorbitant prices for servicing stands.