Parliament begins nationwide inspection of housing and sanitation projects

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has begun a nationwide oversight exercise to assess the implementation of government housing, sanitation and urban renewal programmes.

The committee says the inspections are intended to determine whether housing developments are being implemented in line with government policy and whether communities are receiving essential services such as water, sewerage, roads and storm-water drainage.

Speaking during a tour of projects in Bulawayo on Saturday, committee chairperson Dr Maxmore Njanji said the exercise forms part of Parliament’s constitutional oversight role to hold public institutions accountable.

“The Committee is conducting these visits to assess the implementation of Government housing and human settlements programmes under the Zimbabwe Human Settlements Policy, the Regularisation and Sanitisation Programme and Urban Renewal initiatives,” he said.

Dr Njanji said the programmes are key to achieving Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2, which seek to promote sustainable, inclusive and well-planned human settlements across Zimbabwe.

He said the committee would inspect housing developments and meet officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, local authorities, implementing agencies and affected communities to verify progress on the ground.

The inspections will assess the quality and progress of housing projects, the provision of infrastructure such as roads, water supply, sewerage systems and storm-water drainage, and the extent of informal and dysfunctional settlements.

“The Committee also seeks to identify policy, institutional, financial and operational challenges affecting implementation so that Parliament can make informed recommendations to strengthen service delivery and improve housing development across the country,” Dr Njanji said.

He said the committee’s findings would be compiled into a report to be tabled before Parliament together with recommendations aimed at improving policy implementation and service delivery.

Dr Njanji urged government officials, local authorities and other stakeholders to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and facilitating access to sites identified for inspection.

He said the oversight exercise was intended to strengthen accountability and improve the delivery of safe, dignified and sustainable human settlements for Zimbabweans.