NSSA embroiled in land disputes with councils

of the housing projects that it was implementing.
The authority had bought land for development but could not carry on due to the hyperinflation that the country experienced between 2006 and 2008 due to illegal sanctions that some Western countries imposed.

Some city councils then repossessed the land arguing that the authority had failed to utilise it within the agreed timelines.
NSSA chief executive Mr James Matiza told New Ziana that the local councils had breached their agreements with the authority.
“In Mutare the structure of our agreement was that they would provide offsite infrastructure but they reneged,” he said.

“The issue is still pending but the mayor has shown interest in resolving the matter amicably,” he added.
Mr Matiza cited three housing projects in Mutare which would have seen the authority providing over 2 000 houses.

“The Gimboki project had 2 000 stands while the Stanville low-density project had 960 stands, on another project called Meikles Park there is also an element of repossession there but hopefully we will solve it,” he said.

He said the authority was also facing similar problems with the Masvingo and Bulawayo councils, adding that previous efforts to get back the land had not yielded anything.
“The Masvingo authorities had agreed to give us alternative land but so far nothing has materialised while the Bulawayo authorities are adamant they are not giving back our original pieces of land,” he said.
Mr Matiza said NSSA would continue engaging the authorities in Bulawayo and Masvingo to avail alternative land. – New Ziana.