Online Reporter
Online Reporter
THE Lake City Development Consortium says at least 500 families who had illegally settled at its property, Warwick, near Lake Chivero, will be accommodated in the upcoming LakeCity Housing project after successfully enrolling in the Legacy Beneficiary Programme, a formal regularisation process introduced by the landowner to protect settlers from displacement.
The programme offered every settler an opportunity to transition from an informal settlement to recognised community housing under the LakeCity development.
Ms Brenda Tembo, a director at Warwickshire, said the regularisation process included several rounds of consultations, door-to-door verification visits, public meetings and deadline extensions to ensure that no family was left behind.
“Specific areas (within LakeCity) were identified for these residents to take up occupation and ownership and eventually have a title deed, which is a privilege that at the moment is not easily attainable, but we are passionate as Warwickshire to give these residents an opportunity
for real home ownership that is secure and supported by the law,” she said.
However, Ms Tembo said, despite repeated overtures, at least 100 settlers declined the offer to participate in the regularisation programme.
These families have since been served with eviction notices.
Tembo emphasised that the looming evictions were not punitive but rather an unavoidable final step in a long, exhaustive process in which the settlers were offered a lifeline into formal housing.
“At the inception of the Legacy Beneficiary Programme in April 2024, we had a massive influx to the point where we have over 500 families who registered for the Legacy Beneficiary Programme. However, there were a few that refused to join for their personal reasons, and we made every effort since April 2024 to engage them through their leadership and their legal counsel so that they could all be incorporated into the LakeCity project,” she said.
“So, when it became evident that there were parties that were not keen to be a part of the programme, and all our efforts came to nought, it came to a point where an existing eviction order had to be implemented.
“So that eviction order for 100 people has been implemented today (Wednesday) with the Deputy Sheriff being supported by the police issuing notices to the residents that are not party to the Legacy Beneficiary Programme.”
Because such scenarios usually result in the total removal of settlers, several beneficiaries expressed relief and gratitude for the regularisation model introduced by Warwickshire.
“All those years of uncertainty are now behind us. My family can now sleep peacefully knowing we are now staying here legally,” said one beneficiary who has lived on Warwick Farm for over a decade.
The regularisation programme at Warwick Farm comes as the Government has rolled out initiatives to confront Zimbabwe’s crisis of illegal settlements.
The 829-hectare LakeCity project is expected to transform the area from an informal settlement into a fully serviced residential community with modern amenities, schools and commercial spaces to cater for over 40 000 residents.
Construction is set to accelerate in the coming weeks as the land is cleared and prepared.
