By Flata Kavinga
Njeremoto Women’s Housing Cooperative is set to allocate residential stands to some of its members under Phase 4 of its housing development programme as it expands its projects in various areas around Kwekwe.
The cooperative’s chairperson Otilia Mhaka said the organisation acquired land from private land owners after the suspension of cooperative operations and has since been developing residential stands for its members.
Speaking during a visit to some of the project sites along the Kwekwe-Silobela Road and Chicago areas, Mhaka said the initiative was aimed at helping low-income earners, particularly women and vendors, access affordable housing.
“As Njeremoto Women’s Housing Cooperative, we represent women and help them secure residential stands. As members of the small to medium enterprises sector, we were trained on how to acquire and allocate residential stands,” said Mhaka.
She said the cooperative approached private land owners in surrounding farms and purchased land after learning of the suspension of some cooperative activities.
“We bought land as a cooperative and allocated the stands to members starting from Phase 1 up to Phase 4. We are now gathered at Mbizo Youth Centre in Kwekwe to celebrate our achievements,” she said.
Mhaka said the cooperative was inspired by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to establish a housing initiative targeting people who could not afford expensive residential stands.
“Our cooperative mainly comprises low-income earners and vendors who cannot buy costly stands. We persevered and here we are today,” she said.
She encouraged residents to join the cooperative, assuring them that members’ contributions were directed towards the intended housing projects.
The cooperative’s membership has grown from 50 members to about 2 000, according to Mhaka.
Zimbabwe Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises Midlands provincial treasurer Charity Dick commended the cooperative for pursuing the housing initiative.
“As the Zimbabwe Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises, we fully support Njeremoto Women’s Housing Cooperative’s good work and housing initiative. It is our duty to ensure that people get residential stands and work spaces in line with Vision 2030, which advocates for affordable houses for all,” said Dick.
The cooperative’s housing programme comes amid efforts by various organisations to improve access to affordable housing and workspace facilities for small businesses and vulnerable groups.
