Zimbabwe – The government of Zimbabwe has announced plans to relocate 27 families affected by the recent floods in Budiriro 5B, a suburb of Harare, to new flats in Dzivarasekwa Extension.
The families, who were living in an area deemed unsuitable for human settlement, will move to the government-built flats this January, according to the National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe.
Garwe, who visited the area on Sunday with other government officials, said the relocation was part of the government’s efforts to protect the lives of people and provide them with decent housing.
Based on a report by New Zimbabwe, he also warned the residents not to buy land from land barons who illegally sell state land and use the names of political parties to deceive people.
Land Barons Blamed for Flooding
The floods that hit Budiriro 5B last week were caused by the illegal selling of land by some land barons, Garwe said. He mentioned one of them by name, Nyamayaro, and asked the police to take note of him.
The heavy rains swept away a six-year-old girl, whose body was found days later. The floods also destroyed several houses and infrastructure.
Garwe said the government had identified 27 families who were victims of the land barons two years ago and agreed to build houses for them. However, he said the number of families had doubled since then, as more people ignored the government’s instructions and settled in the area.
He stated that the area was a wetland and was also under electricity cables, posing a danger to the residents. He urged them to report to the police if they had bought land from the councilors or anyone else.
Government’s Housing Plan
The relocation of the Budiriro 5B families is part of the government’s plan to provide 220,000 housing units by 2023, as part of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The plan aims to address the housing backlog in the country, which experts estimate at 1.3 million units, and to improve the living conditions of the people, especially in urban areas.
The government has also launched a program to regularize illegal settlements and to upgrade informal settlements with basic services such as water, sanitation, roads, and electricity.
The government has also partnered with various stakeholders, including the private sector, local authorities, and development partners, to mobilize resources and implement the housing plan.
The Budiriro 5B families have expressed hope that the new flats will offer them a better future and a safer environment.
One of the residents, who identified himself as Common Vision, said he was happy that the government had intervened and offered them a solution.
He said he had bought land from the councilors, who had started the project, and had all the paperwork in place. However, he said he had faced challenges from the land barons, who had taken over their land and forced them to move to the illegal site.
He also appealed to the government to assist them with transport and other logistics to facilitate their relocation
