Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
MASVINGO – WITH the Second Republic prioritising housing delivery, the Infrastructure and Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) is working on developing 1 300 housing stands under various partnerships in Masvingo.
This follows the successful completion of the Clipsham Views Housing Project in Masvingo by the IDBZ and its partners, which saw the development of nearly 1 000 stands.
The development bank has started working on phase two of the housing project, sitting on a 100-hectare piece of land.
Speaking during a tour of the Clipsham Phase One site by the IDBZ board and executive management this Tuesday, the bank’s Director for Infrastructure Projects, Dr Reggie Dangarembga said they are expecting Phase Two of the project to be completed within a year.
“We are now moving into Clipsham Phase Two, which sits on approximately 100 hectares. Our expectation is that within a year or so, the project will be completed. This is part of our broader effort to reduce the housing backlog nationwide.”
Dr Dangarembga also noted that IDBZ has housing developments underway in various urban centres across the country, including Harare, Bulawayo, Kadoma, Plumtree, and Kwekwe.
Additionally, the bank has partnered with tertiary institutions to build student accommodation.
The government-owned development bank’s target is to ensure the Second Republic’s housing delivery priorities are met, hence they continue to invest in infrastructure development.
IDBZ Board Chairperson, Dr Kuphukile Mlambo, underscored the bank’s dual mandate of infrastructure and development finance, positioning it as a key enabler in achieving national goals under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1.
“We are touring our projects to evaluate how they align with Zimbabwe’s development aspirations, especially the goal of attaining middle-income status by 2030. IDBZ is built on two core legs, infrastructure and development, and we are ensuring both are functioning effectively in pursuit of that vision.”
Apart from the housing projects in Masvingo, IDBZ is also implementing a five-megawatt solar project in Gutu, a joint venture paprika production project in Mwenezi and the Muuyu Truck Stop project.
Government has set a target to complete one million housing units by the end of 2025, with financial institutions such as IDBZ playing a crucial role in realising this goal.
