Major Boost for Housing as President Mnangagwa launches Zvishavane Midlands

 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday launched the US$37.7 million Zvishavane Midlands Park Housing Project, a public-private effort to directly tackle Zimbabwe’s housing shortage and drive inclusive national development.

This collaboration between the Public Service Commission (PSC) and First Mutual Holdings will provide 144 residential flats and accommodation for 753 students, supporting Zvishavane’s growth as a centre for families and students in the Midlands province.

At the event, President Mnangagwa emphasised that the project demonstrates progress and unity, highlighting its direct role in enhancing Zimbabweans’ living standards.

He further noted that the project aligns with the government’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), calling it a “bold choice” toward achieving equitable, people-centred development that “leaves no one and no place behind.”

President Mnangagwa also stressed the need for value for money, quality workmanship, and timely project completion, setting new benchmarks for future public sector initiatives.

The project’s success has been attributed to the strong partnership between the government and private sector entities. According to First Mutual Holdings Group CEO and Chairman Douglas Hoto, the Public Service Pension Fund provided about 97% of the capital. At the same time, First Mutual Wealth contributed the land and managed the project’s implementation.

Hoto revealed that similar housing developments are planned for Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East, and Mashonaland Central, as part of efforts to replicate the model nationwide.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo commended the PSC for spearheading what he called a “high-impact initiative” that provides quality accommodation for civil servants and local communities alike.

He credited President Mnangagwa’s leadership and vision for driving such projects forward, describing him as “the guardian of our national pride.”

Beyond housing, the government’s pension and service funds are now being channelled into a broader range of developmental projects — including industrial warehousing hubs, student accommodation facilities, and renewable energy ventures — reflecting their growing role in Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation.