ADDRESS BY HON. E.D. MNANGAGWA (MP) MINISTER OF RURAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES AT THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR MODEL HOMESTEADS CHIEF MAKUNI'S HOMESTEAD, RUSHINGA 06 SEPTEMBER 2006
The Governor, Resident Minister and Provincial Chairman, Cde Ephraim Masawi;
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 Mashonaland Central; Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of Rural Councils; Councilors and Invited Guests; Comrades and Friends:
I feel greatly honored to inaugurate this historic construction of homesteads in Mashonaland Central province. The construction of demonstration homesteads marks the genesis of the formalization and implementation of a pro-poor and people centered win-win rural housing programme.
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. The Ministry is charged with the responsibility of providing housing and social amenities infrastructure in communal, Al and A2 resettlement areas.
In this respect, my Ministry considers addressing the problem of housing in rural areas as a priority. My Ministry is geared towards correcting historical developmental imbalances created by the segregatory colonial regime by bridging the gap between the underdeveloped rural sector and the more developed urban centres. This must be comprehended in the context of the fact that housing am social amenities infrastructure in rural areas have not been developed to the same level as those in urban areas.
Furthermore, as most historians among you would remember, the underdeveloped nature of the rural sector car be traced back to the country's colonial history which regarded the then Tribal Trust Lands as reservoirs of cheap labour. It is high time rural areas reap the gains of the war of liberation. The Government recognizes the efforts made by the people of Rushinga and other rural areas, as they are the ones who bore the brunt of the liberation struggle. The fragmented rural development strategies pursued by various development agencies in Independent Zimbabwe tended to compromise a sustainable and holistic development approach. My Ministry was therefore created to obviate this drawback to sustainable socio-economic development.
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, marriage deliberations, religious ceremonies and other cultural rituals are conducted in this important hut. However, my Ministry does not restrict beneficiaries to its model homestead; 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 colossal programmes that the Government has conceived in order to uplift the living standards of people in rural areas. I am particularly pleased by the way the people of Mashonaland Central have cooperated and managed all Government programs and projects in the past.
In pursuance of its housing programme objectives, my Ministry established a Rural Housing fund that has already been approved by Parliament. Modalities for tin disbursement and repayment of loans 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.
To expedite the provision of social amenities infrastructure, my Ministry established a Social Amenities Development Fund. As of now, my Ministry has made momentous progress in drafting a new constitution for the Fund, which is yet to be approved by Treasury. This fund will go a long way in enhancing the proficient provision and maintenance of social amenities infrastructure in rural areas.
A social amenity is 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, A1, 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. Our children must be taught by well trained teachers, in classrooms with a roof, desks and books to round. My Ministry has embarked on an exercise rehabilitate five schools per district per province.
Allow me, at this juncture, to stress the importance Government, of your participation in the housing programme. I trust that we shall work together in t 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 development partner the private sector, the insurance industry and individuals 1 complement Government efforts in erecting approve housing and social amenities infrastructure in rural areas, am fully aware of the potential and innovative drive of a development partners and I am confident that we can rely on their support in all Government programmes.
It is now my pleasure to officially launch the construction of model homesteads in Mashonaland Central Province.
I thank you.