INTRODUCTION
The newly created Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities is tasked with the up-liftment of the general standard of living for all those people living in the rural areas of Zimbabwe. Consequently, facilities that are presently lacking in wards of the various districts within the 8 "Rural Provinces", will be provided on an on-going basis, bearing in mind the needs (prioritized), and funding available.
As the title of the Ministry suggests, rural housing is the first priority, but in tandem must be the provision of upgraded Social Amenities such as Health, Educational and Community facilities.
RURAL HOUSING
The stock of existing housing within the rural areas of Zimbabwe, is generally inadequate and of a poor standard requiring that steps are urgently taken to improve these aspects. The need for certain types of structures is obvious (e.g. housing, Clinics, etc.) and less apparent in others (e.g. sports halls, etc.). By identifying needs in specific areas, resources can be concentrated to attend to those facilities deemed as being most urgent This process relies on input from the end-users in the rural areas, and as such includes them to a major extent as regards the identification and implementation aspects of the Rural Housing Projects.
SOCIAL AMENITIES
This is the second (but no less important) area of concern of the new Ministry of Rural Housing and Social
Amenities. Thus, the ministry will be responsible for identifying those areas of "Community Life" that need
upliftment, and providing facilities that meet these needs. These would include Health, education, commercial,
and community needs, above and beyond the Housing requirements previously described. Not only the "built"
environment will be provided, as communities should also be provided with "open-air" facilities such as playing
fields, bus shelters, etc. Up-grading of the road network in the rural areas is of prime importance, and will be
addressed aggressively.