Zimbabwe’s government has been embroiled in a controversy over the allocation of residential stands to lawmakers, with Minister Daniel Garwe defending the practice as a constitutionally grounded entitlement. The allocations have sparked debate, particularly amid the country’s nationwide housing crisis.
The government has distributed residential stands across various locations, including:
– Goromonzi: 188 stands
– Bulawayo: 49 stands
– Chiredzi: 12 stands
– Kadoma: 9 stands
– Beitbridge: 5 stands
– Recent allocations:
– Killarny-Goromonzi: 15 stands
– Penrose-Zvimba: 15 stands
– Mabelreign-Harare: 40 stands
Minister Garwe argues that the allocations are part of a long-standing agreement between his ministry and the Parliament of Zimbabwe, dating back to 2013. He likens the initiative to housing benefits for civil servants or veterans of the liberation struggle.
Critics have questioned the fairness and transparency of the allocations, particularly in light of Zimbabwe’s housing crisis. The controversy comes as the government works on public-private partnership housing projects to address the need for affordable housing.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned against illegal land allocations in rural areas, emphasizing the need for fair and transparent land distribution. The government has launched initiatives like the Presidential Title Deeds Programme to provide property rights to residents of informal settlements.
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