Harare Correspondent
HARARE – In a move that highlights the growing role of the private sector in addressing Zimbabwe’s housing crisis, leading security firm SECURICO has awarded housing loans to its longest-serving employees, celebrating their loyalty and contribution to the company’s 25-year legacy.
The initiative comes at a time when the Zimbabwean government continues to face criticism for its failure to provide adequate housing for civil servants, despite repeated promises.
A Silver Jubilee Gesture
The announcement was made during SECURICO’s silver jubilee celebrations, marking 25 years of operation since its founding in 1998.
Managing Director and Founder, Dr. Divine Simbi Ndhlukula, revealed that all employees who have served the company for 20 years or more will now benefit from the housing loan scheme.
“This is our way of honouring the men and women whose dedication has been the backbone of SECURICO’s success,” Ndhlukula said.
“When others left during the toughest times, these loyal employees stood firm, ensuring the company’s survival.”
A total of 241 employees were recognized for their long service, receiving awards in the 10, 15, 20, and 25-year categories.
Contrast with Government Failures
While SECURICO steps up to support its workforce, the Zimbabwean government has struggled to fulfill its own housing pledges, particularly for civil servants.
The National Housing Delivery Programme, launched with much fanfare, has failed to meet targets, leaving thousands of civil servants without decent accommodation. Critics argue that corruption, mismanagement, and lack of funding have crippled the initiative.
“It’s embarrassing that a private company can provide housing loans while the government, with all its resources, cannot house its own workers,” said a labour analyst.
“Many civil servants are still living in squalid conditions or renting in expensive areas due to the state’s failure to deliver.”
Loyalty Tested in Crisis
Ndhlukula particularly praised employees who remained with SECURICO during Zimbabwe’s worst economic crises, including the 2008 hyperinflation period, when many professionals fled the country.
“In 2008, when most of our male staff left, it was the women who stood by SECURICO,” she recalled.
“I trained and mentored them, and together, we kept the company alive. This housing scheme is a small token of our immense gratitude.”
Calls for Private Sector to Fill the Gap
With the government’s housing delivery in disarray, analysts suggest that more private companies should follow SECURICO’s example.
“If the state cannot provide, then employers must step in,” said economist Prosper Chitambara.
“Housing is a critical need, and workers who spend decades serving a company deserve security in return.”
Meanwhile, civil servants’ unions have renewed calls for the government to prioritize housing schemes, warning that failure to do so could deepen discontent among public sector workers.
As SECURICO celebrates its milestone with tangible rewards for its staff, the question remains:
When will the Zimbabwean government do the same for its own workforce?
ZIM GBC News©2025