Vusumuzi Dube
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has said after advertising for housing stands in the media, those with ready cash are considered first before council can go through the housing waiting list.
Responding to questions from various stakeholders during a policy dialogue that was hosted by the Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), BCC chief housing officer, Mr Jerry Sibanda said most people on the housing list were either not working or had no money to pay for the stands.
“In terms of the housing waiting list, those who are saying we are not following it, yes, it is difficult, but as council we are trying our best. Let’s say we avail 300 stands against a waiting list of 136 000 people, we advertise the stands in the media.
“In order to be transparent we look for those with money as first come first serve. When you look at the waiting list most of the people there are the ones that the companies they were working for closed and they are no longer working. We are having people still waiting for stands since 1988 but if you give them a stand for US$6 000 where do you expect that person to get that money from?” he said.
Mr Sibanda gave an example of a scheme where after a developer came up with 600 serviced stands, those on the waiting list could barely afford about US$18 000 that was charged for a stand. Mr Sibanda said council used to build houses and then sell to those on the housing waiting list using a long-term scheme, but because of lack of resources, the scheme was discontinued.
The council housing officer also responded to concerns that were raised regarding the issue of double allocations especially in Cowdray Park, revealing that the local authority had done its best in resolving the matter.
“We solved that, maybe the outstanding double allocation cases involves just about 36 beneficiaries who have not received their stands but we are working on that,” he said.
He said council had a policy that when a person takes another person’s stand, the victim should report the other person to the police or Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission.
The other alternative was to demolish the property that would have been setup illegally.
BCC city valuer and city estates officer, Mr Thabani Ncube, relating to the engagement of private developers, said the local authority only considered the ones with their own resources.
“If we look at private developers within the city of Bulawayo, when there is land available for servicing, we advertise in the press seeking for private developers with own resources, that is those with own expertise and funds to do the developing. We then select the most responsive who are experienced and with finance,” said Mr Ncube.
He said in terms of the policy private developers were not allowed to collect public or beneficiary funds to develop the land as they were supposed to use their own funding.
“They sign contracts which specifically state that should it get to the council’s attention that they have sold the stands before development, it amounts to a breach which leads to the cancellation of that agreement.”
Online Reporter