59% of Zimbabweans own houses

At least 59% of Zimbabweans live in their own houses, a state of affairs attributed to Government's progressive housing programmes initiated since Independence in 1980.

The 2012 Census National Report shows that 19% of the population are lodgers, 12%  are in tied accommodation, while 3% are tenants.

With the majority of the population living and working in rural areas due to land reforms, most people have built houses; while those in urban areas tend to either rent or live in company accommodation, with the remainder holding title deeds.

According to the ZimStat Compendium of Statistical Concepts and Definitions Used in the Zimbabwe National Statistical System, a tenant occupies the whole dwelling unit and generally pays electricity and water charges to the local authority.

The report states that in all provinces, owners of houses constituted the largest proportion, except in Harare and Bulawayo.