adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council yesterday commissioned 391 residential stands in Emhlangeni suburb under the suburb’s first phase of the pre-sell programme.
Under this programme homeseekers pay for the stands before they are serviced and then council uses the money to fund the servicing of the stands.
The $3 million project, adjacent to Romney Park and Paddonhurst, comes at a time when the city council is battling to clear its housing backlog that stands at 110,000.
Handing over the stands to their owners, acting Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Gift Banda said the pre-sell programme was part of the council’s efforts to reduce its housing backlog.
“The servicing of Emhlangeni Phase One medium density stands is the third in a series of projects that council is implementing in a bid to clear its housing backlog, said Clr Banda.
He said stands were serviced under the same programme in Mahatshula North medium density suburb, Pumula and Emganwini high density suburbs.
Clr Banda said under the arrangement, council which was facing cashflow challenges, was partnering with homeseekers to provide serviced stands and the homeseekers will then use the resources to build their houses.
He said another 541 stands will soon be serviced under Emhlangeni phase two.
Clr Banda said 875 high density residential stands wil also be serviced in Luveve 5 and 169 medium density residential stands in Mahatshula.
Acting Town Clerk, Sikhangele Zhou said the beneficiaries should only start building after their plans have been approved by council.
He said council will do all within its powers to ensure plans are approved in the shortest possible time.
Online Reporter