adminTHE provision of shelter is a basic human right as enshrined in our Constitution.
It therefore means that the Government has a constitutional role to ensure the provision of decent housing to citizens.
Over the last decade there has been a sharp rise in the demand for housing in most cities that has far surpassed the ability by local authorities to avail decent housing to the people. The dire state of the economy, as a result of economic sanctions imposed on the country, has done more harm as councils are failing to make ends meet.
The establishment of housing cooperatives and private land developers has helped bridge the gap and ensure that people get shelter.
We have read of success stories in which some land developers have done a good job in providing shelter in line with prescribed municipal by-laws. At the same time, stories have been told of land developers who are milking beneficiaries of their hard-earned cash without delivering shelter.
Elsewhere in this issue we carry a story in which more than 7 000 beneficiaries of the Gimboki South Housing Scheme in Mutare are crying foul over millions of dollars they have apparently lost to thieving leaders of the project who are lining their pockets without doing anything to service the stands.
Since July 2007 when the project began no significant progress has been made to develop the stands despite members paying monthly subscriptions to that effect.
Up to this day, the apparently confused beneficiaries are paying money without knowing what tomorrow has to offer. What they want is somewhere to put their heads on.
Presently, it is a free-for-all as those who can talk are bulldozing their way and milk people who have become vulnerable.
We are told that no audit has been carried out since 2007 to ascertain how the money was used and what is left in the bank. No audit has been carried out to see the progress done to date vis-à-vis the amount of money collected.
Reports abound that there is double allocation of stands as some group leaders have become law unto themselves and have parcelled out stands without approval from council and the consortium. All this is happening in broad daylight.
We share the same grief with the innocent beneficiaries who are bearing the brunt of this organised confusion whose effect is to milk dry their bleeding pockets. At this point, we are appealing to the relevant ministry to chip in and rescue these 7 000 beneficiaries from further losing their money to these housing tricksters.
What we understand is that the land in question still belongs to the Mutare City Council because payment of the intrinsic value of the land is made at the Civic Centre. As the owner of the land in question, council must, through the town clerk’s office, flex its muscle and help bring order at the scheme.
We have been made to understand that the stranded beneficiaries are now waiting for council’s intervention to save the day.
They want the local authority to spell out the course they must follow, otherwise nothing will progress.
From the look of things, an urgent audit is required to account for all funds. Those who stole people’s money must be brought to book while beneficiaries who have not paid a cent must not be allowed to stay longer at the scheme because their actions are counter-productive.
If the current set-up is not providing desired results, it is best for the local authority to look for another developer who can speedily ensure that restive beneficiaries stay on serviced stands. People have moved on to occupy un-serviced stands because they fear that they might lose them due to double allocations rampant at the scheme.
It is our considered view that council must set the tone and the smooth running of the scheme because many families have pinned their livelihood there.
Online Reporter