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Land developers in Zvimba District have come under fire from residents for failing to collect garbage that is posing a serious health threat. Those fingered as the main culprits include owners of Pfugari, Granary, Spitskop Plot 12 and 14 and Rydaleridge housing schemes.
According to minutes of a full council meeting held on Thursday last week, residents aired their grievances during road show promotions the local authority ran from February to March 10 in its various respective communities.
“Though each station had some specific and distinct demands, we realised how our various communities, especially in Harare West are reeling under the shortcomings of private developers,” read part of the minutes.
“The residents were pleading with council on various issues like roads and refuse collection and our quietness though was construed as lack of care.”
In an interview, Zvimba RDC chief executive Mr Peter Hlohla said the local authority was not under any obligation to provide services to the communities because the projects were yet to be handed over to council.
He said council was now extending a hand in collecting garbage and other related services out of sympathy.
“My council is not under any obligation to construct, service or maintain infrastructure before the project is handed over to the council,” said Mr Hlohla.
“Handover can only be done after full servicing of stands and these developers were not expected to settle beneficiaries before these stands were fully serviced.”
Mr Hlohla said lack of responsibility by the private developers would expose the communities to water-borne diseases hence the local authority has been forced to act.
“All projects which are being done by these private land owners are lagging behind in terms of service delivery, yet most of the beneficiaries have already occupied the stands,” he said.
“Faced with such a scenario, we are left with no option but to extend our hand in garbage collection and other related services to maintain a disease free environment in those areas.
“We are always ready to assist due to intensive consultations we do. We are getting a lot of feedback which in turn informs our decision as council. A refuse truck which is yet to be delivered was also acquired in respond to such requests.”
Meanwhile, Zvimba RDC has called for a redraw of Murombedzi grand draw that ran on March 10 following a realisation that Mr Loyd Chivakanhema of 129 Nyabira, who won stand number 1 829 valued at $3 195 in Murombedzi, was a relative to one of the council employees.
Online Reporter