Thousands of desperate home seekers from different parts of the country today convened at Zanu PF Headquarters in Harare where they were expecting to be given residential stands.
The ruling party is using the country’s housing woes as a campaign plinth ahead of the 2018 general elections.
Reports indicate that Zimbabwe has a housing backlog of about 1,2 million, with dodgy land barons and fake cooperatives swindling thousands of home-seekers of millions of dollars in botched housing deals.
Scores of Zanu PF youths who gathered at the part headquarters to witness the launch of the Housing Scheme commended government for availing land.
The launch of the housing project follows the legendary protests by protestors under the #Tajamuka and #This Flag movements.
“I want to thank President Mugabe for this scheme. Tava ma landlonds hatisi maroja isu,” said a Zanu PF supporter who identified himself as Cde Samora.
He added that, “We are here to celebrate the 4 farms that have been availed to the youths. The move will see us becoming owners of residential stands. We plead with the president to continue helping the youths,”
Another Youth bragged about how she now owns multiple stands.
“I’m very happy and want to thank President Mugabe. I own a stand in Harare South which I was given by Mashayamombe. Now I have just received another stand,” she said.
Several pieces of land were availed under the housing scheme with 300 hectares in Chishawasha, 500 hectares in Harare South and 200 hectares in Norton.
Addressing the desperate home seekers Zanu PF Youth Deputy Secretary Kudzai Chipanga said President Mugabe heard the plea for residential stands.
“Chichemo chema residential stands chakatopindurwa. President vakatopa directive ku Ministry of local government kuti itsvage nzvimbo yema youth.KuBulawayo land yakatotanga kupiwa vanhu.Muno mu Harare President Mugabe vakupai land inokwana kuita 1000ha. Your plea for residential stands has been answered, President Mugabe has ordered Ministry of local Government to search for land for us,”said Chipanga.
“Toda kuti patinonovhota tiende umwe neumwe akabata makey emba yake.Zanu PF iruling party haingaiti party yemaroja…. When we go for 2018 elections we want each and every youth to be holding his/ her house keys. Zanu PF is not a party of tenants,” says Chipanga.
But critics are viewing the move as a populist stunt aimed at buying the urban vote for the ruling party ahead of the potentially explosive 2018 general elections.
”This just goes to prove that things have completely fallen apart and that the centre can no longer hold. The government is bankrupt and millions of Zimbabweans are desperate for jobs, food and shelter. By thronging the the Zanu PF HQ, these desperate home seekers are merely expressing their anger and frustration with the government’s failure to successfully address the deteriorating socio-economic crisis in Zimbabwe. Things will certainly get worse before they get better,” said MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu.
Tawanda Chimhini, the Director of Election Resource Centre (ERC) questioned the ownership of the land that is being distributed.
“Does the party which organised today’s event own the land? Is it state land or party land? If it is state land then we have a problem as the land will only be given to party supporters,” queried Chimhini.
