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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council yesterday unveiled 303 of 1,347 medium residential stands against a ballooning waiting list of more than 100,000.Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo officially commissioned 303 stands under the pre-sale system in Mahatshula suburb during which deputy director engineering services Ian Mthunzi said an additional 1, 044 stands would soon be unveiled under the same scheme.
“We will be servicing 875 stands in Luveve 5, 169 in Mahatshula North and this will be done through a tender process,” he said.
Mthunzi said the 303 stands were serviced by Aggregate Proprieties, who have laid water and sewer pipes and built roads. He urged residents who have acquired the stands to look after the established infrastructue and desist from damaging it.
Clr Moyo said while council was committed to providing housing to its residents, it was unable to meet the demand due to financial constraints.
“Under normal circumstances council would be building the bulk of houses so that its home seekers can just move in and pay while staying in the houses. But our economy is on its knees, making it difficult for the council to provide this service,” he said.
Clr Moyo said partnership with private developers remained the only option for developing housing but blamed some developers for doing shoddy jobs.
“This created a number of problems where some developers failed to service the land according to the council specification and left problems for the home owner,” he said.
Clr Moyo said the local authority adopted the pre-sale system after realising shortcomings by private developers. He said the pre-sale system was efficient although it mainly benefitted those with money.
Aggregate Properties director Themba Dube expressed gratitude to council for awarding his company the tender. He also commended the government for its indigenisation policy for promoting local companies.
“We have been involved in property development in Bulawayo and other areas in Matabeleland region for the past 11 years. We want to thank the government’s indigenisation policy has also helped us,” he said
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