News / National
Kasukuwere defends distribution of land to Zanu PF youth
05 May 2016 at 10:13hrs | Views
The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Savior Kasukuwere has denied that the proposed new 20 000 housing stands would be distributed along party lines.
Last month in Bulawayo, Kasukuwere told Zanu PF youth that they would soon have their own township and thousands of stands would be dished out to them.
In parliament on Wednesday, MDC-T legislator Abednigo Bhebhe quizzed Kasukuwere on the matter.
He said "Mr. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. We are aware that the country has a housing backlog estimated at over 1.5 million.
"Recently, you were on the news canvassing for 20 000 stands that you are going to distribute on partisan lines. Is it not prudent for the Minister to encourage the Government to allocate proper land to fulfill the waiting list of 1.5 million?"
In response, Kasukuwere said "First and foremost, we are not distributing or let alone having people access stands on the basis of their political cards. We want to ensure that all Zimbabweans where possible, have housing opportunities" he said.
"The housing waiting list by city authorities has been very disappointing, if I have to say it. For a very long time, Government has been making land available to the city authorities.
"However, if you see the records by city authorities, most of the land was distributed to land barons and cooperatives, to the extent that many of the people who accessed the land did not pay for the land even to the city authorities.
"We felt this process or system can no longer be acceptable. We have authority within Government; the Urban Development Cooperation which is charged with ensuring that we develop housing and house our people. We are going for a transparent process, a system that will ensure that the majority of our people has access to land".
He added " Mr. Speaker Sir, it would have been my desired route to work with the city authorities and give them land but some of them have publicly said they do not want the land, with 100 000 people on the waiting list. I cannot force cities which have said that publicly and I can quote Bulawayo Mayor. He said the 100 000 people on the waiting list is not an issue. How can 100 000 people be not an issue to a city father? We are saying we will move into Bulawayo and ensure that we give land to the people; irrespective of their political persuasion, we are going to house them".
Last month in Bulawayo, Kasukuwere told Zanu PF youth that they would soon have their own township and thousands of stands would be dished out to them.
In parliament on Wednesday, MDC-T legislator Abednigo Bhebhe quizzed Kasukuwere on the matter.
He said "Mr. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. We are aware that the country has a housing backlog estimated at over 1.5 million.
"Recently, you were on the news canvassing for 20 000 stands that you are going to distribute on partisan lines. Is it not prudent for the Minister to encourage the Government to allocate proper land to fulfill the waiting list of 1.5 million?"
"The housing waiting list by city authorities has been very disappointing, if I have to say it. For a very long time, Government has been making land available to the city authorities.
"However, if you see the records by city authorities, most of the land was distributed to land barons and cooperatives, to the extent that many of the people who accessed the land did not pay for the land even to the city authorities.
"We felt this process or system can no longer be acceptable. We have authority within Government; the Urban Development Cooperation which is charged with ensuring that we develop housing and house our people. We are going for a transparent process, a system that will ensure that the majority of our people has access to land".
He added " Mr. Speaker Sir, it would have been my desired route to work with the city authorities and give them land but some of them have publicly said they do not want the land, with 100 000 people on the waiting list. I cannot force cities which have said that publicly and I can quote Bulawayo Mayor. He said the 100 000 people on the waiting list is not an issue. How can 100 000 people be not an issue to a city father? We are saying we will move into Bulawayo and ensure that we give land to the people; irrespective of their political persuasion, we are going to house them".
Source - Byo24News
