Public Real Estate Management Practices and Challenges in Zimbabwe

Governments own properties and infrastructure to fulfil their primary goal of service delivery. However, problems exist as this goal outweighs that of making profits, yet finances are needed for maintenance and upkeep. The research investigated public real estate management practices, the extent to which the practices are implemented, and the challenges affecting public real estate management in Zimbabwe. A quantitative research approach was adopted, which involved distributing questionnaires to government officers and executives responsible for public real estate management in Bulawayo. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics to compute mean scores (MSs) and frequencies. The results suggest that the most frequently implemented practices are asset registration and record keeping, rent collection, periodic/regular reporting, financial analysis, and leasing property to private organisations. Furthermore, the primary challenges encountered in public real estate management include inadequate financing, lengthy budget approval processes, a lack of effective information technology systems and skills, poor communication as well as high cost of building materials. The results highlight the need to design interventions that ensure that public sector real property is maintained adequately, promoting a proactive approach to management, and also integrating technology into public sector real property management. This will help improve the population's welfare and living standards while unlocking the potential of the property values of all government properties to regenerate income even from non-core real estate.