Council moves to repossess idle stands

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
HUNDREDS of Bulawayo property owners, including Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu, risk losing their undeveloped residential and commercial stands as the Bulawayo City Council is threatening to repossess them.

According to a list released by the city council yesterday, Mpofu’s property in Matsheumhlope is one of the more than 200 properties that have been considered by the council as abandoned, derelict and deserted.

Mpofu’s property is jointly registered under his name and Sikhanyisiwe, his wife.

Most of the properties listed are in Burnside, Manningdale, Newton West, Riverside, Hillside, Woodville, Queensdale and Sunninghill among other areas in the city.

Acting Town Clerk Sikhangele Zhou advised the listed property owners to make necessary payments to council within the next two months or risk losing their properties.

“The owners of the listed properties should come forward and make the necessary payments to the city council within the next 60 days. Failure to do so will result in the council claiming the properties in terms of Section 5 of the titles registration and derelict lands Act Chapter 20:20,” she said.

Zhou said persons having claim on derelict land could apply to the High Court for relief.

The city council has in the past expressed concern over the high number of both residential and commercial stands that have remained underdeveloped for a number of years.

According to council regulations, if an owner fails to develop a stand for two years, the local authority can repossess it without paying any compensation.

Investment in Bulawayo has remained depressed with established companies closing down or relocating to Harare after alleging poor business environment in the city. Some companies and individuals have, however, blamed the economic situation as the major reason for not developing their stands.