RDP houses for Mutale's needy

Date: 25 July 2003 By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

Maswanganyi, together with other members from the province legislature, Mutale mayor, Masindi Manyuha, and his council handed 250 free houses to needy community members from the villages of Mukondeni, Vuvha, Tshamulungwi, Tshanzha and Luheni.

The houses were worth more than R5, 5 million. The official opening took place at Tshamulungwi Primary School last Sunday.

One of the beneficiaries, Muvhulawa Dabishi (68), was without words when Maswanganyi handed her the keys to her house. Dabishi has been using a one-roomed mud house with her two grandsons, since the year 2000, when the floods destroyed hers and other houses. The sad moment was when Dabisi told the MEC that she had been made to believe that the government was going to make her pay for the house, as nothing is for free.

Other community leaders also confirmed that rumor. It was also said that some of the people who qualified to get a house, had withdrawn their names, because of the same allegations that the government will make them pay back the money. The department has up to so far built 800 houses in Mutale municipality. The project started in July 2002 and resorted under Katekani Investment.

Maswanganyi said his department was fulfilling the promise they had made in 1994, that they would provide free houses to needy people. He also appealed to community members to register their children for child support grants, while urging them not to use the money for the wrong reasons, like buying clothes for themselves, hairdressing and other things like buying liquor or drugs. He said people should report those who abuse the child support grants, while children themselves are suffering.

Maswanganyi also urged people to register with the Independent Electoral Commission, so that they can vote in next year's elections for the party of their choice.

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Ndivhuwo Musetha

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