PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) ministries leader Walter Magaya yesterday launched a new housing project in Bulawayo, targeting to build 5 000 houses by year-end.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI/XOLISANI NCUBE
The project is part of Magaya’s plan to deliver 90 000 houses countrywide and was officially launched by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, who was represented by his Minister of State, Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga.
“Initially, we were targeting 45 000 housing units, but due to the growing demand, we are now going to have 90 000 houses and we are looking for more land. We are starting the construction now as we wait for permits from governments for other developments,” Magaya said.
The project, according to Magaya, would benefit members of his church who will reportedly be discounted by up to 60%. “The cost will be reduced because we are using our own construction company to do the work. This is a way to say thank you to the partners who have supported the ministry through and through,” he said.
“Stories were written about me, negative things said, but they have remained with us. In fact, they increased and we are now saying thank you.”
Magaya said the houses would be a tourist attraction.
Officially commissioning the project, Kanengoni-Malinga said PHD was complementing government’s efforts to build 15 000 housing units by 2018 as stated in the economic blueprint, ZimAsset.
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“The project will go a long way in alleviating accommodation shortages in the city. As government, we are supporting this initiative which augurs well for ZimAsset,” she said.
“With the church, we can work together to develop our country.”
Bulawayo City Council has 110 000 applicants on the housing waiting list.
Magaya said he would also construct schools and shopping malls in the area, which was 15km outside the city centre, to enable beneficiaries to do business within their vicinity.
Besides providing housing units to his church members, the project would also create jobs in the former industrial hub of Zimbabwe which has now turned into a ghost town.
“We are saying to all captains of industry from this area, if you have anything to do with construction, please go to our offices and drop your papers there. We are looking at getting our labour from here so that we can create employment here,” Magaya said.
