adminMunicipal Correspondent
A private land developer in Norton has not yet undertaken the required development of services, in particular roads, storm water drains and water supplies, that would allow Knowe Phase 2 in Ward 4 to be taken over by the town council.
The delays appear to have been caused by the death of the major company shareholder, Mr Eddie Pfugari, the proprietor of Eddies Pfugari Properties.
The company has, however, requested that Norton Town Council assist in the development of infrastructure such as roads and water supplies.
Norton Town Council is on the other hand, insisting that it can not alter the prescribed requirements for developing low-density areas.
Generally, private developers on private land are required by local authorities to provide the basic services of roads, water piping and sewers, if stands are too small for septic tanks, as part of the planning permission to develop private land for residential use.
Most private developers make the necessary arrangements with zesa to electrify the area.
Large swathes of most Zimbabwean cities and towns have been built in this manner, with councils being the developers of commonage land or land they would have bought or been allocated for their land banks.
When council is itself the developer on council or State land, it ensures that the services are present before selling the stands to those on waiting lists.
There was an intermediate category of cooperative development where unserviced council land was allocated, but that led to the major problem of land barons and has been discontinued by most councils.
Norton Town Council says it cannot take over Knowe 2 from Eddies Pfugari Properties because the developer is yet to comply with the basic standards set.
While conceding that not all work had been done, the developer believes that the council should foot some of the costs since it has been collecting rates from a project it has yet to recognise as complete.
The local councillor and a resident, Tarisai Mazarura said several attempts to engage council have not yielded any positive results.
“We are suffering yet we are paying money for all the services including roads, street lighting and water,” she said. “The developer passed on and the children are busy fighting over his estate and ignoring our plight.”
On Wednesday, the town council secretary Mr Kizito Muhomba, insisted that the council cannot take over the project before their conditions are met by the developer as is normal practice in all towns and cities.
“Our requirements are that there should be roads, storm water drains, and portable water connection. As a low density area the houses there should have septic tanks. The developer has not met any of the conditions we have set,” he said.
A director of the private developing company, Mr Edward Nyanyiwa yesterday promised that the company will complete the project.
“The issue of providing services is under control. We are busy winding up the estate and the process is almost complete,” he said.
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