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The Governor, Resident Minister and Provincial Chairman, Cde Cephas Msipa;

The Deputy Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities, Hon J B Matiza;

Senators and Members of Parliament here present; Members of the various structures of ZANU PF;

The Secretary for Rural Housing and Social Amenities, Cde D C Munyoro;

The Provincial Administrator;

Members of the Provincial Development Committee and Provincial Council;

Senior Government Officials and District Administrators here present;

Heads of Development Partners in Midlands;

Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of Rural Councils;

Councilors and Invited Guests;

Comrades and Friends:

I feel honored to officiate at this historic construction of homesteads in Midlands province. The construction of this model homestead marks the beginning of the rural housing programme by my Ministry.

In line with our Party's PEOPLE FIRST principle, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde R G Mugabe, formed the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities with the express mandate of uplifting the quality of life of people in rural areas. This will be done by, among other things, providing rural housing and social amenities infrastructure in communal, Al and A2 resettlement areas.

In this respect, my Ministry considers addressing the housing problem as a priority. The policy thrust of my Ministry is to correct historical imbalances by bridging the gap between the underdeveloped rural sector and the more developed urban centres. This must be understood in the context of the fact that housing and social amenities infrastructure in rural areas have not been developed to the same level as those in urban areas.

Furthermore, as most old generations among you would remember, the under developed nature of the rural sector can be traced back to the country's colonial history which regarded the then Tribal Trust lands as reservoirs of cheap labor. In addition, the fragmented rural development strategies pursued by various development agencies in Independent Zimbabwe tended to compromise a sustainable and coordinated development approach.

My Ministry has begun constructing model homesteads, which will be offered to identified traditional leaders and vulnerable families currently living in decrepit and substandard housing. Chief Sigola of Matabeleland South was the first beneficiary of my Ministry's rural housing programme. Today, we are here at Chief Maziofa's place to launch the construction of model homesteads in Midlands.

This is not to say that the programme targets traditional leaders only but it is aimed at helping all those in need of housing in rural areas.

To this end, my Ministry is cognizant of the fact that rural housing is an important indicator of social well-being. In terms of the human's hierarchy of needs, shelter remains one of the most important factor which requires adequate attention.

Pursuant to this, my Ministry's policy provides for an ideal standard homestead comprising of a three bed roomed house with a sitting room, a traditional round kitchen, Blair toilet, granary and a rubbish pit. The traditional round hut is meant to preserve our culture, as you are aware that all marriage deliberations are done in this important hut. However, my Ministry does not restrict itself to the model homestead and people are at liberty to come up with their own designs as long as they enhance sanitation and their overall standard of living.

What you are witnessing today is indicative of big programmes that the Government has conceived in order to uplift the living standards of people in the rural areas. I am particularly pleased by the way the people of Midlands have cooperated and managed all Government programs and projects in the past.

My Ministry has a Rural Housing Fund that has already been approved by Parliament and modalities for its disbursement and cost recovery methods are at an advanced stage of completion. The process is being done with due diligence to ensure a spirit of transparency and fairness to all.

My Ministry has also made significant progress in drafting a new constitution for the Social Amenities Development Fund, which has to be approved by Treasury. This fund will enhance the provision of social amenities infrastructure in rural areas.

I am sure that some of you may want to know what actually a social amenity is. My Ministry defines a social amenity as a structure that increases a community's physical well being or facilitates work. In other words, it is a facility that improves or ensures comfort, convenience and enjoyment to people living together in communities. It is a public good, facility or utility which is pleasant for the whole community with indirect benefits to the individual.

To that end, my Ministry is vigorously constructing and rehabilitating social amenities in order to bring enjoyment and convenience to the people in communal, Al, and A2 areas. Such facilities include village dispensaries, clinics, classroom blocks, crèches, community centers, vendor marts, electricity, sporting facilities, tourist sites and culture houses.

Social amenities like schools enable our children in the rural areas to get a good basic education to make them trainable in various skills. Well-trained teachers, in classrooms with a roof, desks and books to go round, must teach our children . My Ministry has embarked on an exercise to construct and rehabilitate five schools per district per province.

I would like, at this juncture, to stress the importance to Government of your participation in the housing programme. I trust that we shall work together in the construction of houses and social amenities and refurbishment of schools. I would like to declare to you my utmost confidence in our country of achievers with many accomplishments under the inspirational and enlightened leadership of His Excellency, Cde R G Mugabe, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Finally, my Ministry is calling upon other development partners, the private sector, the insurance industry and individuals with the financial capacity to partner with the

Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities in this construction and refurbishment of infrastructure and social amenities in the rural areas. I am pleased to note that the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Gono, is willing to support rural development programmes which uplift the standard of life of our rural people. I am fully aware of the potential and innovative drive of all development partners and I am confident we can rely on their support to give a boost to the Government's rural housing programme.

It is now my pleasure to officially launch the construction of model homesteads in Midlands Province.

I thank you.