adminProsper Ndlovu Deputy News Editor
BULAWAYO City Council has bowed down to popular pressure by acceding to demands to transfer ownership of houses built under the Millennium Scheme in Emganwini suburb to residents.The houses were built by council in conjunction with donors at the turn of the millennium and allocated to residents on rental basis.
Since 2012 the occupants petitioned council on the issue and staged repeated demonstrations demanding title deeds for the houses.
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo met Emganwini residents on Sunday and told them that council has finally resolved to allow them to own the houses.
“The issue was discussed in council. We had a motion on that in the last council and the finance department is working on the issue in terms of determining the value of the houses so that we know how much the occupants can pay to council before they own them,” said Clr Moyo.
“If that is done the houses will be put on home ownership. In a few months’ time these houses will be yours. It is my promise as the mayor that this issue will be cleared before the end of the year.”
The previous council headed by Clr Thaba Moyo had attracted fierce criticism from residents who accused the city fathers of forcing them to pay exorbitant rentals for the houses.
Through their associations, residents had blasted council and labelled the then mayor an “arrogant failure who failed to handle the issue properly” and did not understand his mandate.
Clr Thaba Moyo, then, had a heated exchange with residents and accused them of making uninformed outbursts before saying he “would not dance to the demands of pressure groups”.
The demand for home ownership comes amid revelations that an estimated 70 percent of houses in Bulawayo do not have title deeds.
The council is on record, saying it was working on turning into home ownership its rented accommodation in suburbs such as Iminyela and Mabutweni.
Some of the tenants have stayed in those houses for more than 30 years.
Online Reporter