NATIONAL Housing and Social Amenities minister Zhemu Soda has said there is an urgent need to renovate government properties across Zimbabwe, describing many of them as an eyesore.
Speaking at the ministry’s strategic planning workshop held in Mutare recently, Soda said the dilapidated state of the buildings had led to civil servants shunning the facilities, which has become a growing concern for the government.
“When we talk of repairs and maintenance of government properties, this is actually an eyesore. Most of the government properties that are lying out there are no longer habitable,” he said.
Soda said some government properties had fallen victim to illegal occupation, heightening the need for prompt action.
“In most instances, those houses are being occupied illegally. As we speak, we have some people we are trying to evict, but they are deciding to occupy them [government properties],” he said.
“It is crucial that we restore these properties not only for the benefit of our civil servants, but also to uphold the dignity of government assets.”
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Soda announced that his ministry would collaborate closely with the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry to secure the necessary funding for the renovation exercise.
“We will try to approach to justify the cause for the renovations to our colleagues, the Finance ministry that we have some properties lying out there, which ordinarily are supposed to be accruing as a non-monetary benefit to our civil servants, but because of the condition in which the houses are in, they are no longer habitable as the civil servants are shunning them,” he said.
The move has been met with support from various stakeholders who believe that revitalising government properties will enhance the working environment for civil servants and improve public service delivery.
Soda reassured the public that a detailed plan for the renovations would be unveiled in the coming weeks.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to improve infrastructure and public services, aiming to foster a more conducive working environment for civil servants and ensure that government properties are both functional and aesthetically
pleasing.
As the ministry prepares to embark on this renovation journey, the minister called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate and contribute to the success of this crucial initiative.