The Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has launched a nationwide inspection of Government housing projects, beginning with the Senga housing development in Gweru, as Parliament steps up oversight of housing delivery across the country.
The week-long fact-finding mission, which runs until July 16, is aimed at assessing progress, identifying implementation challenges and ensuring public funds allocated to housing projects are being utilised effectively.
Committee chairperson, Dr Maxmore Njanji, said the inspections would provide Parliament with first-hand information on the status of housing developments and help strengthen accountability.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that housing projects are progressing according to plan and that public resources are being used efficiently. We want to establish the progress made, appreciate good work where it is evident and identify areas requiring urgent attention,” he said.
At the Senga project, legislators toured four blocks of four-storey H-type flats, where construction has reached approximately 45 percent completion.
Dr Njanji expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far but stressed the need for projects to be completed within agreed timelines.
“It is encouraging to see the level of work achieved at this stage. However, our expectation is that the remaining work will be completed on schedule so that beneficiaries can occupy these houses without unnecessary delays,” he said.
He added that Parliament was committed to monitoring projects while they were still under construction to ensure quality standards were maintained throughout implementation.
“We are not only interested in completed projects. Conducting oversight during construction allows us to identify challenges early, safeguard construction quality and ensure value for money,” said Dr Njanji.
The committee will also inspect housing developments, urban renewal initiatives and sanitation infrastructure in Lupane, Bulawayo, Harare, Marondera, Mutare and other centres.
Among the projects earmarked for assessment are the Garikai housing programme, civil servants’ accommodation in Lupane, housing developments in Cowdray Park, Epworth and Hopely, as well as urban renewal projects at Matapi Flats in Mbare and Sakubva Flats in Mutare.
The committee’s findings will be tabled before Parliament, with recommendations expected to address policy, financial and operational challenges affecting housing delivery and accelerate the provision of decent housing under the country’s national development agenda.
