Mrs Cecilia Alexander
Felex Share, Harare Bureau
THE Government’s initiative to provide stands to civil servants has received an overwhelming response with thousands of workers registering to be part of the historical development.
This comes as civil servants’ representatives today meet officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to submit the first batch of names and work on the implementation matrix.
At least 100 000 civil servants countrywide are set to get residential stands from the scheme as part of the Government’s efforts to give its workers non-monetary incentives.
The Government last week tasked chairpersons of civil servants’ unions to compile lists of willing beneficiaries and submit them today.
The lists would assist the Government in allocating land in various cities and towns.
Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander yesterday said while unions had received an overwhelming response from their members, the door was still open for those yet to register.
“The housing scheme is a positive development that has been well received by civil servants and all unions as this will give them their basic right of a roof over their heads,” she said.
“Civil servants are excited and they want to be allocated the stands as soon as yesterday. We’re overwhelmed as this is the best that any Government can do for its employees. Thousands of people have come forward and thousands continue coming and we thank the Government for availing the housing scheme which will address one of the much awaited non-monetary incentives.
“All the unions are compiling names and will tomorrow submit names to Apex Council for onward submission of the first batch to the Local Government ministry at a meeting to be held tomorrow (today) afternoon.”
Mrs Alexander added: “We hope by December, we would have captured the names of all civil servants interested in benefiting. Those who get stands can as well apply for mortgages from the National Building Society which has been established to provide mortgages for house developments. All is now set for us to take off.”
Housing delivery is one of the key goals of ZimAsset and the Government intends to provide 300 000 units to the people by 2018.
The specific housing scheme will go a long way in cushioning civil servants who have seen many schemes being established in their names but benefitted outsiders and political bigwigs.
This has resulted in many Government workers being duped by land barons.
College Lecturers’ Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr David Dzatsunga said: “The response is overwhelming. Members are upbeat about owning their own piece of ground and they’re saying this is the best Government has ever done for its workers in a very long time. It’s our hope that this project will benefit the intended beneficiaries and political thugs won’t hijack it.”
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe led by Mr Raymond Majongwe was yesterday still urging all teachers to be part of the initiative.
“Comrades, we’re back again to ask members to furnish us with details of those interested in securing stands through the union,” the union wrote on its Facebook page.
“Please get our assurance that no deductions will be made on anyone’s salary. We now risk losing out on a project that we initiated as other civil servants have now come forward. We should have the details of all those interested by Monday (yesterday). Please don’t blame us for not telling you. Let’s also notify friends and colleagues who are in remote zones of Zimbabwe.”
The stands project is a culmination of a three-day engagement Government negotiators and the workers had a few weeks ago.
Apart from housing issues, the Government has been regularly informing the workers on the ongoing rationalisation exercise, shift in pay dates, impending introduction of bond notes as well as pension and medical aid benefits.