peterRobin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council is encouraging women to register and be on the housing waiting list in order to be allocated land as it is a way of empowering them.
During a recent council meeting, councillors were curious to know if married women were allowed to apply separately for land without their spouses, a matter that council said was possible.
Alderman Monica Lubimbi suggested that women should be encouraged to register for accommodation in a bid to empower them as every resident has the right to accommodation.
“We have been encouraging women and also the youths to register to get land with the BCC because before they could not do this, a woman was not allowed to be on the house card.
We were recorded as children.
So now it’s time for women to own land,” she said.
Ald Lubimbi said stands were available from time to time and women should take advantage.
“I was on a drive to encourage women to register to get land, I went to several schools like Mthimkhulu, Masotsha, Fusi and Mazwi encouraging female teachers to get on the housing waiting list and I am happy to say many managed to get stands after I encouraged them,” she said.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mlandu Ncube was of the sentiment that married couples share information regarding housing registration to avoid conflicts when land is availed.
Council has been requesting signed affidavits for single parents who register for housing waiting list forms and include their children which was said to be unnecessary by the council saying women were allowed to acquire housing waiting list forms without producing an affidavit.
Director of Housing and Community Services Mr Dictor Khumalo said women were allowed to acquire housing waiting list forms as it was part of council’s service delivery to offer affordable accommodation.
Bulawayo has a housing backlog of more 100 000. — @NyembeziMu
Online Reporter