adminZvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
OVER 7 500 low-income residential stands owners in Harare South’s Saturday Retreat, popularly known as Ushehwekunze, got a relief after Government struck a deal with CFI Holdings for them to pay modest amounts in compensation to Crest Breeders International as part of efforts to regularise their stay.
The resolution puts closure to a legal battle over ownership of the land which belongs to Crest Breeders.
It was a hive of activity yesterday at CFI Holdings offices in the capital during a visit by The Herald as more than 500 stand-owners thronged to register their names in the firm’s database and to make payment plans.
In terms of the agreement, residents will pay $4 per square-metre, a figure that has been described as modest as it is consistent with what local authorities charge for residential stands. The figure will translate to $1 200 per residential stand for most of the residents with average stand sizes. The development comes after the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement and Crest Breeders International, a subsidiary of CFI, resolved the dispute over control of Saturday Retreat Estate, measuring 1 057,3 hectares, to the south of Harare. CFI Holdings project manager, Mr Taurai Shava said more than 2 000 stand owners had so far come to their offices to regularise their occupations.
“The process will enable them to get title deeds once they have settled all their dues including tax obligations. We have between 7 000 and 8 000 families and we are working with leaders of their respective co-operatives in taking their details and verifying their names,” he said.
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