HARARE’S Nehanda Housing Co-operative was recently honoured for its commitment to provide shelter to low-income earners during an awards ceremony recently held at the Zanu PF headquarters in the capital.
The co-operative located in Dzvirasekwa was feted by the Legacy Awards, which were organised by the newly-established Legacy Television and supported by the party’s youth wing.
Nehanda Housing secretary-general Andrew Marauka said the award is testimony to the co-operative’s professional conduct in dealing with delicate matters to do with land.
“We are grateful to receive such a huge honour and recognition particularly from the youths who are noticing the important work that we are putting in our endeavour to make housing accessible to all the people in need without discrimination on the basis of deep or shallow pocket,” Marauka told the Daily News.
“Dealing with land issues is no mean feat; it calls for honesty and transparency. People are desperate for land some would want to do it the short cut and illegitimate way but we are always on guard to ensure that fairness is upheld every time.
“As with all good things you reckon spanners will always be thrown on the path and for us, we have been fought unjustly by mercenaries who want to destabilise the gains of the liberation struggle and those of the Second Republic but the law has always vindicated us.”
The housing co-operative was established in 2000 by a group of war veterans under the Third Chimurenga project that started off with 5 392 stands.
The settlement formalised by the government saw the land being parcelled out for different use; residential as well as community schools, comprising seven primary and three secondary schools.
In March 2008, the co-operative was officially commissioned by the then late president Robert Mugabe and construction continued on the ground, reaching close to 1 500 housing units.
“The vision was to incorporate every Zimbabwean regardless of their financial status. The co-operative’s operations are guided by three pieces of legislation; the Cooperatives Act, the by-laws and constitution,” added Marauka
“The Cooperatives Act section 40 specifies that every member should exercise rights upon payment and when due payment is ready. The rights of any member are based on the payment of subscriptions.”
