adminGeorge Maponga in Masvingo
Masvingo City Council has resolved to repossess over 1 000 residential and commercial stands that have not been developed in 10 years, as per the rules.
The development comes as council suspects some of the beneficiaries were also holding on to the stands for speculative purposes.
Council intends to re-allocate the repossessed stands to those on the waiting list.
Mayor Councillor Collins Maboke said the local authority was miffed by failure by beneficiaries to develop the stands.
“We suspect that some people have been keeping the stands for speculative purposes after buying them with the intention to resell them at a higher price,” said Clr Maboke.
“But as council we are saying that has to stop and we will never tolerate it.
“There are more than 1 000 commercial and residential stands that we will repossess after the beneficiaries failed to develop them within the stipulated time-frame and the repossession will be done in line with council’s laws and regulations.”
Clr Maboke said Masvingo would not tolerate people who stand in the way of development, saying the local authority was firmly focused on transforming the country’s oldest town into a world class city over the next few years.
Council has been working tirelessly to peg back the runaway housing backlog by opening more areas for housing development.
More than 12 000 new residential stands were opened at Victoria Ranch suburb over the past five years, with hundreds more being developed at Klipsham Views along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.
Clr Maboke said they will continue to service more land for residents to build homes.
“We want Masvingo to continue transforming into a modern world class city but we also need to match housing development with provision of key services such as sewer and water reticulation,” he said.
Flamboyant businessman and Zvimba North House of Assembly member Mr Phillip Chiyangwa is among those who have lost stands in Masvingo for failure to develop.
Online Reporter