Zimbabwe province pushes Gwanda towards high-rise housing as waiting list hits 34,000

Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe has urged Gwanda Municipality to prioritise the construction of high-rise residential buildings to address a housing shortage that has left more than 34,000 people on the province's waiting list.

Speaking at World Habitat Day commemorations held at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda under the theme “Adequate Housing for All”, in partnership with UN-Habitat, Nguluvhe said local authorities should embrace modern housing solutions that maximise limited urban land while providing affordable accommodation.

He said the traditional approach of allocating large residential stands was becoming unsustainable, particularly as younger generations prioritise affordable housing over spacious properties. “These young couples no longer care much about having garden space or big land, they just want accommodation that is affordable, so I urge you to look into it and focus more on having high-rise buildings,” he said.

Nguluvhe said multi-storey apartments would allow authorities to house more families on smaller pieces of land and reduce pressure on existing infrastructure, and commended the municipality for the progress it has made on housing projects in the town.

Gwanda Mayor Thulani Moyo said the municipality was working with private developers to accelerate residential stand servicing and housing delivery. Monerf managing director Elinas Gumbo said her company was developing more than 600 residential stands in the town, with infrastructure works nearing completion.

Moyo said delays in servicing land held by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and AFC Bank were holding back investment, including plans by investors to build modern hotels and sporting facilities. The municipality hopes that resolving those constraints, alongside more high-density residential projects, will accelerate housing delivery in the provincial capital.