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MANDATE OF THE MINISTRY

To fulfill its mandate, the ministry performs the following portfolio responsibilities:

• Formulate rural housing and social amenities policies;

• Prepare, review and implement master, local and layout plans to facilitate rural development;

• Coordinate and mobilize communities for the provision and maintenance of social amenities in rural areas;

• Mobilize resources for the implementation of housing and social amenities in rural areas;

• Develop and implement strategies that ensure rural development in consultation with line Ministries and other stakeholders;

• Coordinate the implementation of the Rural Housing Delivery Programme;
• administer the Rural Housing and Social Amenities Funds;

• Construct and maintain all Government buildings and other infrastructure in rural areas.

Rural Housing And Social Amenities Policy

Based on these Principles, the Ministry has come up with a Rural Housing and Social Amenities Policy to guide its operations as it interfaces with various stakeholders. The key feature of the policy is that it is made up of two major components: the Rural Housing Policy and the Social Amenities Policy.

The Rural Housing Policy component takes cognizance of the fact that, in pre-independent Zimbabwe, there were no specific policies to promote housing for the rural areas. To obviate this, the policy component on rural housing focuses on needs-based housing for the rural household family, resettled household family, community leaders, rural public servants and vulnerable groups.

The Social Amenities Policy component, on the other hand, caters for, among others, the provision of facilities such as alternative sources of energy, service centres, access roads, small bridges, dams, clinics, village dispensaries, crèches, schools, sporting facilities, aerodromes, telecommunication networks, chief's courts, and community halls. The policy component also gives due regard to facilities for water and waste water reticulation.

To ensure the successful realization of the Rural Housing and Social Amenities Policy, the Ministry will collaborate with other line Ministries and partners with a stake in rural housing and social amenities.

Finally, the policy recognizes the need to engage the financial and banking sector, research institutions, development partners and other stakeholders in making resources available for the provision of sound and affordable housing and social amenities infrastructure.

RATIONALE FOR THE RURAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES POLICY

The rationale for the formation of the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities is to bridge the gap between the underdeveloped rural sector and the more developed urban centres. This imbalance is rooted in the country’s colonial history, which marginalized the majority African population by forcing them onto sandy, barren and uninhabitable Tribal Trust Lands.

The desire to regain the land wrested from Zimbabweans through brutal force and the various expropriation acts such as the Land Apportionment Act (1930), Land Husbandry Act (1951) and Land Tenure Act (1969) constituted one of the primary reasons for the Liberation Struggle. This process of pauperization was deliberately meant to create a pool of cheap labour to service industries and the white commercial farms. The imbalance between the two sectors was further exacerbated by the fragmented rural development strategies pursued by various development agencies in Independent Zimbabwe. The net effect of the above historical development was the intensification of rural-urban migration and the fact that housing and social amenities infrastructure in the rural areas are not as developed as those in urban areas.

In considering the historical antecedents giving rise to this draft policy, it will be instructive to recall that, in spite of the immense sacrifices made by people in rural areas during the Liberation Struggle, urban people are benefiting more from Government driven projects and programmes. Furthermore, due to the Liberation War, houses, clinics, bridges, dip tanks, churches and other social amenities were damaged and in some cases, completely destroyed.

Given the motivation for the creation of this Ministry, it is therefore not surprising that people in the rural areas have great expectations from this Ministry. The Ministry continues to receive an avalanche of enquiries and requests for assistance from members of the public across the length and breadth of the country.

About seventy percent (70%) of the country’s population lives in rural areas, hence there is an urgent need to reconstruct and repair damaged infrastructure.  In this regard, the Ministry will actively be involved in the reconstruction, repair and building of houses and social amenities infrastructure in collaboration with private-public partners.

OBJECTIVES OF THE RURAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES POLICY

In line with the Ministry’s mandate of promoting and facilitating rural development through the provision of sound and affordable housing and social amenities for use by people in communal and resettlement areas, this policy endeavors to achieve the following objectives:

1. to ensure that the Ministry’s deliverables benefit the intended beneficiaries and address individual communities’ housing and social amenities needs;
2. to prepare, review and implement master, local and layout plans to facilitate rural development in consultation with local authorities and the Department of Physical Planning under the Ministry Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development;
3. to co-ordinate and mobilize communities for the provision and maintenance of social amenities such as clinics, village dispensaries, crèches, schools, community halls, access roads, culverts, small bridges, piped potable water, sporting and recreation facilities;
4. to mobilize resources for the implementation of housing and social amenities projects in rural areas by, among other methods, public and private sector participation and quasi-government institutions;
5. to co-ordinate the implementation of the Rural Housing Delivery Programme by, among others, reviewing existing implementation strategies in consultation with line Ministries and other stakeholders;
6. to administer the Rural Housing Fund and Social Amenities Development Fund to enable them to meet the housing and social amenities needs of identified beneficiaries in rural areas;
7. to construct and maintain Government buildings and other infrastructure in rural areas; and
8. to undertake research into appropriate, sound and affordable building technologies, alternative forms of energy, intermediate modes of transport and communication, small scale irrigation projects and related projects in collaboration with the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) and other research institutions.

POLICY BENEFICIARIES

The beneficiaries of this policy can be classified into two basic categories namely:

1. internal client; and
2. external client.

Internal client
The internal clients are the Government Ministries, Departments and rural public servants. The Government Ministries and departments will use the policy to align their programmes of action and coordinative mechanisms. Rural public servants will benefit in terms of housing and social amenities facilities.  Their working environment will become more attractive thereby curbing the drift of public servants to urban areas.
External client
External clients are the end users or beneficiaries of the various projects and the following are examples:

1. School Children

School children will benefit from conducive learning environments with adequate facilities such as classrooms, toilets, potable water, Information Communication Technology (ICT) centers and science laboratories.

1. Civic Organisations

Civic organisations will benefit from the development of rural areas since they can conduct business in conducive environments. This will also result in school children not being disrupted from the use of their classrooms by civic organisations who would be in need of venues for their functions.

1. Arts & Craft Practitioners

Rural communities need to participate actively in the arts and craft industry. Talent in arts and craft will be unlocked through the provision of requisite facilities and incentives.

With the development of community halls, public squares and theatres, the rural community will benefit from the entertainment provided.  Art and craft products will find their way to markets through art and craft centres. This will enhance the preservation of our cultural heritage.

1. Private Sector

The provision of such facilities as banks, factory shells, bus ranks, market sheds, vendor marts, shopping malls, and office complexes will result in the private sector coming in to open businesses which will improve the quality of life of the rural community. 

1. Community

The provision of roads, schools, clinics, community halls, community radios, footbridges, playgrounds, recreation parks, sports stadia, among others that are mentioned elsewhere in this policy document, will make rural life attractive. Communities will benefit from patenting their products and services and collect revenue from tourists.

1. Farmers

The policy envisages an improvement of the service infrastructure for the farmers in rural areas.

1. Sportspersons

The sports talent that lies in the rural areas remains untapped.
 
This policy, therefore, opens the sporting arena to rural sportspersons to compete at District, Provincial and National levels and thereby widening the selection network for various sporting disciplines administered under the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) under the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture. 

The policy seeks to do this by improving sporting facilities in schools and at ward and district levels for the sportspersons to gain entry into provincial, as well as national competitions.

1. Youths and Women

The provisions under this policy will provide youths and women with life skills, employment and recreation.

1. Tourists

The improved infrastructure will result in the rural areas being accessible and attractive to local and international tourists.

1. Religious Organisations

The policy seeks to improve the worshipping environment for all religious groupings through the provision of appropriate infrastructure such as church buildings and proper water and sanitary facilities.

1. Vendors

This policy seeks to address the concerns of vendors by providing appropriate vending stalls with water and sanitary facilities for them to conduct their business.

1. Community leaders

The policy seeks to provide facilities for community leaders such as housing, chiefs’ courts, and telecommunication networks to enable them discharge their duties. 

1. Local Authorities

Through the provision of the various facilities listed in this policy document, the local authorities will realize revenue through the taxes charged for the use and maintenance of the infrastructure. Where capacities are not available, local authorities will be provided with such.

RURAL HOUSING & SOCIAL AMENITIES CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Rural Housing and Social Amenities programmes have to empower rural communities economically so that they contribute to sustainable economic development.
 
The basis of the Ministry’s contribution to sustainable economic development will be through the establishment of rural housing and social amenities infrastructure. The process of establishing such an infrastructure will enhance the participation of rural communities in economic activities such as:

1. agricultural projects covering horticulture, animal husbandry, cash crop production and agricultural engineering;
2. value addition to agricultural produce;
3. income generating projects;
4. eco-tourism;
5. mining;
6. equity participation; and
7. development of new forms of energy.

Participation in such activities will create jobs, ensure food security, reduce poverty as well as provide the means to service loans.

Social Services
Private-public partners will support the Ministry’s initiatives through the provision of social services such as:

1. health programmes;
2. education programmes;
3. employment creation/training programmes;
4. sports and recreation activities;
5. security/insurance.

Empowerment
Empowerment of rural communities will incorporate avenues such as:

1. provision of concessionary funding;
2. participatory involvement;
3. public private partnerships (PPP)/build operate transfer (BOT)/concessions; and
4. Beneficiation from indigenous resources.

 
The Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will partner with line Ministries and Government Departments to ensure such empowerment.

RURAL HOUSING POLICY

The Rural Housing policy locates the beneficiaries at the centre of housing programmes. It is anchored on creating a favourable environment for people to construct their own houses, consistent with their socio-economic status. The policy calls for research to establish comprehensive and specific housing needs of the rural people.

HOUSING FOR COMMUNAL PEOPLE
The stock of existing housing within the rural areas is generally inadequate and of a poor standard.  This makes it imperative for the Government to effect urgent improvements.  In this respect, the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will provide homestead type units and focus on refurbishing existing units on a cost recovery basis.  The Ministry will also improve sanitation and access to clean water in accordance with the national targets and the MDGs.

Provision of housing for orphans, the elderly and the disadvantaged will be subsidized. The bulk of the Government housing resources will, therefore, be utilized to assist this category.  Mechanisms will be worked out to provide grants through local authorities for the provision of housing to vulnerable groups which include, among others, the aged, disabled and destitute.

Issues of funding for other categories of communal people are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

HOUSING FOR A1 RESETTLEMENT FARMERS
This category of farmers practices both subsistence and commercial farming.  Since their resource base is not as strong as that of their A2 counterparts, they need assistance in putting up affordable and durable housing structures.  This is an area where standard designs are required to expedite the implementation of the housing programme for this group.

The housing model to be used at household level will consist of a house with two or three bedrooms with a lounge, a round shaped traditional kitchen, granary, rubbish pit as well as a blair toilet to guarantee public health and safe waste disposal.

Issues of funding are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

 HOUSING FOR A2 RESETTLEMENT FARMERS
The resource base for this category of farmers is stronger than that of their A1 counterparts.  While some A2 farmers managed to secure farm houses, the majority of them could not. A2 farmers will be provided funds to construct homesteads on a cost recovery basis.
In conjunction with the Ministry of National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, and rural Local Authorities, the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will put in place a system of planned settlements which will make it easier for rural housing programmes to be done in tandem with the provision of required social amenities.

Issues of funding are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

HOUSING FOR RURAL PUBLIC SERVANTS
The urgent need for the Government to deliver quality services to people in rural areas has been hampered by poor institutional housing for rural public servants.  The challenge of attracting and retaining qualified and trained personnel in such areas cannot be overcome without improving the institutional housing, sanitation and water facilities as well as energy sources.

Decent accommodation will enable public servants to provide quality service in rural areas. In this regard, a housing ownership scheme will be set up for public servants and preference under this scheme will be given to those without institutional accommodation.

Issues of funding are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

HOUSING FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS
Due to the need to improve the status of community leaders, this policy incorporates on-going programmes to improve their conditions of work by providing housing facilities as informed by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development.

Issues of funding are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

HOUSING AT THE LEVEL OF BUSINESS CENTRE/RURAL SERVICE CENTRE
Whilst these centres enjoy the existence of properly planned shops, decent housing will be provided for business owners and their employees.  Such initiatives will be carried out in conjunction with the Rural District Councils (RDCs) and the Department of Physical Planning.  The houses will have piped, potable, reticulated water and adequate waste disposal facilities.
Issues of funding are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

HOUSING PROGRAMMES AT THE GROWTH POINT LEVEL
The upgrading of some rural service centres to the level of growth points has resulted in them becoming centres of attraction and investment.  The status accorded such areas has seen an influx of people that has not been matched by a corresponding increase in the provision of housing.  To expedite the provision of housing at this level, the Ministry will assist in the servicing of stands by all RDCs. The allocation of serviced stands is under the jurisdiction of RDCs. 

Issues of funding are reflected in the Rural Housing Fund section of this policy.

ARRANGEMENTS TO EXPEDITE HOUSING DELIVERY

While this policy acknowledges the central role of Government as a facilitator and developer, it goes beyond that by recognizing the need to review current legislation, planning and housing building standards and introducing innovations in the construction, design technology and materials for the delivery of adequate, durable and affordable housing to the rural communities.

BUILDING BRIGADES
It is anticipated that new and existing structures will be erected or refurbished by construction experts and building brigades that will be established in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth Development and Employment Creation as well as the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development. 

The work done by such brigades will be monitored to provide durable structures. Participation in building brigades will not only create employment but also prepare individuals for entrepreneurial activities in the construction industry.

POLICY OPTIONS FOR FINANCING RURAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

One of the major challenges that the Ministry faces is the mobilization of adequate and appropriate financing for housing development. In light of the foregoing, this policy is premised on several options regarding the financing of rural housing infrastructure in rural areas.  These include, among others:

1. Rural Housing Fund
2. Private Sector Initiatives
3. Rural Insurance schemes
4. Self Financing by Individuals
5. Funding from Pension Funds and other statutory entities

RURAL HOUSING FUND

A Rural Housing Fund will be established as governed by the Rural Housing Fund Constitution.

The purpose of the Fund is to advance loans and grants to individuals, associations and communities in rural areas for the purpose of servicing, constructing and renovating housing properties and to meet the cost of research into appropriate housing designs and technology. Repayment of the loan component will be structured in a manner that enables beneficiaries in rural areas to adequately service their loans while at the same time remaining productive.

Recoveries will be done on a monthly to seasonal basis depending on the end-user’s financial capacity.  Government Extension workers will play a key role in the recovery programme.

Permutations on repayments by the beneficiaries at Business Centre, Rural Service Centre and Growth Point Levels will be project specific as the individuals may be assisted at different levels of constructing their houses.

As the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities interfaces with other line Ministries and local authorities, it will provide decent housing for the rural public servants by either renovating the existing structures or erecting new ones.

Modalities of recovering the cost of construction of housing for public servants will be worked out.

PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES
This policy provides an option which includes initiatives where employers and companies erect housing for their employees, provision of finance by suppliers and funding by building societies. 

In the case of the former, the employer avails housing loans to the employees.  The long term advantage of this initiative is that it enables rural areas to retain manpower and bolster productivity.

Supplier finance, on the other hand, envisages the provision of ‘synthetic’ or flexible credit terms by suppliers for the financing of rural housing. In light of the current boom in the construction industry, the terms could be negotiated with representatives of suppliers, contractors and service providers.

Furthermore, it is anticipated that the financial sector will complement Government efforts in availing funds for the provision of housing and social amenities. In this respect, the establishment of the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe is timely as it provides an important vehicle for raising cheap and affordable capital. The bank, which is a new version of the formerly envisaged Housing Development Bank, should take advantage of the creation of the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities which is a construction arm of Government in the rural areas.  All funds to be disbursed from the bank will be fully insured under the Rural Insurance Project which, in turn, will be fully supported by reinsurance umbrella organizations.

On the same note, building societies constitute another financing window. However, it is often restricted by the need for collateral and stringent demands for repayment. It is anticipated that the introduction of a tailor-made Rural Insurance Scheme will enhance prospects of funding rural housing by building societies.

 RURAL INSURANCE SCHEMES
Properly structured rural insurance schemes will be established to provide security to rural lives and properties. Such schemes will also be a pool of investment surplus which can be used for rural housing. 

SELF FUNDING BY INDIVIDUALS
As some people in both communal and resettlement areas generate disposable income from farming and other activities, there will be provision for individuals to finance their own housing projects.  Self funding increases the sense of ownership and eases the burden on the fiscus.

PENSION FUNDS
Pension funds aim to deliver meaningful benefits at retirement to their members. Hence, it is critical to structure them in a manner that guarantees a good investment return on housing.  

The policy seeks to redirect some of the funding from the pension funds to rural housing projects. Pursuant to this, the Ministry will apply this option to complement financing by the Rural Housing Fund.

SOCIAL AMENITIES POLICY

The Social Amenities Policy component of the Rural Housing and Social Amenities Policy seeks to uplift the lives of the rural people.

In this policy, a social amenity is a public utility which serves and benefits the whole community. In this regard, the rural social utilities covered under this policy include, inter alia:

1. Rural schools;
2. Health facilities;
3. Public infrastructure;
4. Animal health infrastructure;
5. Amenities at business centres; rural service centres and growth points
6. Sacred areas.

RURAL SCHOOLS
The refurbishment and building of schools will be done in tandem with the specific requirements of each community.

In communal areas, emphasis will be on improving the quality of educational infrastructure. The Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture, RDCs and other stakeholders, construct new schools in the resettlement areas and renovate those already in existence.

To promote the quality of education, ICT-based resource centres will be constructed.  This will be done hand in hand with the electrification of classrooms and teachers’ houses. In all instances, local communities will be mobilized to provide labour and materials.

HEALTH FACILITIES
Although health facilities are available at rural health centres, there is absence of such facilities at village level.  To obviate this, the Ministry will establish dispensaries at village level.  This will improve accessibility to health facilities by most vulnerable groups.

The establishment of village dispensaries will cut the long distances one needs to travel to access medical care and improve access to drugs. Each dispensary will be manned by a nurse aid.

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
The policy addresses issues pertaining to the establishment of warehouses, market stalls, community halls, factory shells, bus stops and public ablutions.  Most of these facilities will be established at business centres, rural service centres and growth points.  These developments will be carried out in conjunction with RDCs and the Department of Physical Planning.

ANIMAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
Animal health safeguards and generates wealth for farmers.  However, most dip tanks in rural areas are in a state of disrepair and dipping chemicals are in short supply.  Maintaining and growing the national herd is a priority of Government. Hence, the refurbishment of the existing dip-tanks will go a long way in mitigating instances of animal diseases. 
In A1 resettlement areas, dip tanks will be centralized for access by communities.  

AMENITIES AT BUSINESS CENTRES, RURAL SERVICE CENTRES AND GROWTH POINTS
The infrastructure at business centres, rural service centres and growth points is generally in a state of disrepair. In order to stimulate economic development at these levels, the Ministry, in conjunction with RDCs, will upgrade the state of the infrastructure. This will be done through availing funds as well as technical input to RDCs.

SACRED AREAS
Sacred areas in rural areas will be protected for historical and cultural purposes.  Some of these areas will be further developed into local tourist attractions and generate revenue for communities. 

Pursuant to this, access to these areas will be controlled and limited in terms of the cultural and religious beliefs of the specific areas. 

COMMON SERVICE CENTRES
Common service centres will be established for the benefit of communities. Such centres will provide entrepreneurs with the requisite tools and equipment for their trade at a nominal fee.

OWNERSHIP AND USE OF PROPERTIES
These buildings and social amenities will remain the property of Government, local authority, relevant institution, community or individual depending on the bi-lateral or multi-lateral agreements among the parties involved.

Income realized from these institutions will be used to renovate, upgrade and upkeep of these facilities hence the need to charge commercial rates.

COMMUNAL UTILITIES / PROPERTIES
The communities will form committees for the management of these infrastructures.

POLICY OPTIONS FOR FINANCING SOCIAL AMENITIES INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

The policy options are based on the need to mobilize adequate and appropriate financing for social amenities infrastructural development to generate economic activity and employment. They include, among others:

1. Social Amenities Development Fund
2. Mobilization of Funding from the Private Sector
3. The Financial Sector
4. Donor Community

SOCIAL AMENITIES DEVELOPMENT FUND
The purpose of the Social Amenities Development fund is to meet the capital cost of developing social amenities infrastructure in communal and resettlement areas of Zimbabwe through the provision of grants and loans to eligible applicants. This is done by advancing grants and loans to individuals and companies or associations for the purpose of developing infrastructure such as business premises, individually and communally run irrigation systems and any other infrastructure of a capital nature which is intended to improve the business or social standing of the rural areas of Zimbabwe.

The establishment of the Social Amenities Development Fund will be governed by the provisions of the Fund’s constitution.

MOBILISATION OF FUNDING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND STATE ENTERPRISES
This option seeks to mobilize funds from the private sector in order to construct and refurbish already existing social amenities infrastructure to generate economic activity and employment creation. The exercise will be done by, among other activities, creating smart partnerships between the private and public sectors at ward, district, provincial and national levels to identify specific needs and raise funds for the erection of social amenities infrastructure.

Some of the infrastructure, the funds could be invested in include vendor marts, factory shells, mini-shopping malls at growth points and ports of entry at the county’s borders, classroom blocks, laboratories, information communication technologies like internet and mobile telephone facilities, individual and community irrigation schemes, mini-hydroelectric power stations and alternative forms of energy like solar PV, wind and biomass. To make the projects attractive to potential investors, it is critical that they are underwritten by adequately capitalized rural insurance schemes.

In line with the drive to add value to agricultural and other agro-based products, institutions like the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) will be approached to set up industries to process cotton, ground nuts, bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, sugar cane, mushrooms, vegetable canning and drying. This has the added advantage of creating employment in rural areas.

THE FINANCIAL SECTOR  
Financial sector institutions like the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe will complement efforts by the Social Amenities Development Fund and the private sector by availing affordable funding towards the development of social amenities infrastructure. The funds could be targeted at community projects such as the erection and refurbishment of dip tanks and community halls, small scale irrigation facilities, ICT projects, construction and rehabilitation of service roads, small bridges and culverts. It is important for the projects to be insured.

SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE

The Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will work hand in hand with other line Ministries and Developmental partners whose mandate is to accelerate rural development. The supporting infrastructure covered under this policy include, among others:

1. Transport;
2. ICT,
3. Energy; and
4. Water.

1. Transport

Communal, A1 and A2 resettlement areas experience an acute shortage of transport due to lack of road infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.  This has led to intermittent and, sometimes, complete withdrawal of service by some transport operators. 

The policy, therefore, seeks to address transport issues from a holistic perspective.

The Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will collaborate with development partners, who include, among others, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, Ministry of Energy and Power Development, District Development Fund (DDF), Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe and RDCs.

Most of the roads in rural areas are gravel and hence labour-based road maintenance strategies will be used to provide employment in communal and resettlement areas. On the same note, access roads or pathways that encourage the use of intermediate means of transport will be constructed and properly maintained to link centres of economic activity. 

1. ICT

Effective communication remains a major pre-requisite for rural development.   Communication networks including fixed telephones, mobile phones, Internet, print and electronic media, community radio, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and fax services will be established for rural areas. 

The development partners include, among others, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Ministry of National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, RDCs, Power-Tel, TEL-ONE, NETONE, Telecel and Econet.

On a related note, the Rural Electrification programme being undertaken by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) provides an opportunity to facilitate telephonic/electronic communication.  The policy endeavors to encourage the licensing of REA, a subsidiary of ZESA as a provider of telephone services.  Once ZESA is licensed in this way, it is possible to provide tele-communication facilities for every rural institution.

1. Community Radio

Community radios should be viewed as vehicles to promote the emergence of discussion platforms on community development projects as well as disaster preparedness. Community radios will be positioned at strategic centers such as schools, community halls and clinics.

In liaison with the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and relevant stakeholders, modalities to provide community radios in the rural areas will be worked out. 

1. Telephones

The Rural Electrification programme being pursued by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) provides an opportunity to enhance the provision of telephone communication.  The policy fully supports the licensing of Powertel, a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings.

The Internet is a powerful strategic tool that can be used by local farmers and SMEs to market their products.

Strategic centres such as business centres, rural service centres, growth points, police stations, administrative centres and Chiefs’ homesteads will be hooked to the faxes, internet to assist in the conveyance of information from one place another.

All these communication services will act as pull factors in attracting and retaining qualified personnel from urban centres into rural Zimbabwe.

5. Postal Services

The policy will see the construction of new and upgrading of existing postal agencies in communal and resettlement areas.  This will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development to ensure that every community hall to be built in every ward has provision for a postal agency and banking facilities.

6. Water

Water plays a very important role in the development of rural areas.  Therefore, water will have to be provided for both domestic and commercial use. Under commercial use, irrigation water will have to be provided sufficiently.  The Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will work with development partners who include, among others, the Ministry of Water Resources and Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), DDF and NGOs in the provision of water reticulation infrastructure.

7. Irrigation Schemes

The policy recognizes the existence of other sectoral policies that address the issue of irrigation schemes.  However, there is need to put in place an intervention policy regarding irrigation facilities in rural areas. To improve food security at the family level, user-friendly small irrigation schemes, including sprinklers, gravity and drip irrigation for small and large gardens, will be deployed.  Wind technology will also be harnessed to provide irrigation to small and large-scale farmers.

8. Energy

Energy is equally important for the rural development. The Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities will liaise with REA whose mandate is to accelerate rural electrification. The Ministry will facilitate the process of final connection of rural electricity into facilities of beneficiaries. 

Alternative sources of energy, for example mini-hydro, wind energy, solar energy and bio-gas will have to be made available in rural areas.  Other partners involved include, among others, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, RDCs, and NGOs.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Resource development focuses on the material and technology development in the built environment. The elements of resource development will be:

1. Research & Development (R & D);
2. Design systems;
3. Skills development;
4. Labour based technologies.

Research & Development
R & D is a critical component of any development process. The Ministry will identify rural housing and social amenities existing practices within the communities and propose areas of improvement and value addition.

Building materials
Rural communities are endowed with natural materials and deposits which can be utilised in coming up with low cost and durable building materials. The research thrust will be towards identifying and harnessing the locally available materials which can be used to improve the development of building materials, such as sand stabilised bricks, clay bricks, doors, door frames, window frames and roofing materials.
Innovations and adaptation of appropriate technologies
There are a number of existing technologies which are being used by the rural communities. This policy will emphasize on the enhancement of these technologies in line with modern trends to make them cost effective as well as energy and environmental efficient.

Foreign technologies will be adapted as a last resort.

 Deployment of Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Where traditional methods of construction are appropriate, for example, thatching, beneficiaries will be encouraged to construct buildings using locally sourced materials. Such indigenous knowledge will be documented and patented before deployment and best practices shared. Sources of such knowledge will be adequately remunerated.

Design Systems
Research will be undertaken to establish specific housing needs in the villages, wards and districts. The data gathered from such research should be analysed and used in prioritising structures that are most in demand.  Sources of such research data will be adequately remunerated.

Following this, standard designs will be done and act as a basis for facilitating the quantities and manpower requirements to be provided by the Ministry, other players and the beneficiaries themselves.

Skills Development
Rural communities will be engaged in skills development so that they become self-sustaining. To this end, community industries and training centres in the area of building material manufacturing and construction will be established.

Labour-Based Technologies
Labour-based technology has over the years received international recognition with respect to its application in infrastructure development, road maintenance and construction. The technology has a number of benefits including the capacity to contribute towards employment creation, economic empowerment, income generation and poverty reduction among rural communities.

These will, therefore, be employed as a way of empowering the local communities. The main focus of labour-based technologies will be the construction of new and maintenance of existing infrastructure such as:

1. Buildings and other structures;
2. Sanitary facilities;
3. Roads;
4. Bridges;
5. Dams.

POLICY MANAGEMENT

The Rural Housing and Social Amenities Policy will be managed by the Ministry of Rural Housing and Social Amenities through its structures. The management process will involve policy implementation, review, monitoring and evaluation of the impact at all the levels.

The implementation, review, monitoring and impact evaluation of the Rural Housing and Social Amenities Policy will be executed through already existing structures at National, Provincial, District, Ward and Village levels. Whereas policy direction will be provided at Cabinet level, decisions will be made on the basis of detailed information from household level upwards. Thus, a rural-based approach will govern all activities under this policy.

The policy direction will be to empower individuals at various levels to take charge of the policy implementation process and raise the degree of accountability and ownership. To this end, the policy will be translated into local languages. The Rural Housing and Social Amenities Policy will be reviewed annually or as and when necessary, depending on the requirements of intended beneficiaries.