Scores risk losing stands

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
SCORES of Bulawayo residents risk losing housing stands as council moves to repossess undeveloped properties. The affected are applicants who were allocated residential stands in the middle and low density suburbs of Mahatshula and Selborne Park. According to the latest council report, there are more than 150 applicants who were allocated residential stands during the period 1992 to 2008 who have failed to develop them.

The local authority had given the residents 24 months to develop the properties.

The director of Housing and Community Services, Isaiah Magagula, said council resolved to repossess stands that had been vacant for more than 20 years and were also in breach of lease condition of completion of building in 24 months.

“Deceased estates in breach, estates not winded and had been vacant for more than 10 and 20 years will also be repossessed,” he said in the report.

Council gave residents who have not developed their residential stands and have not been paying service fees to the local authority an additional 12 months subject to payment of an extension fee of $800 and clearing of rates arrears.

Council said the situation would be reviewed in 12 months.

The Director of Health Services, Dr Zanele Hwalima, supported the idea of repossession of undeveloped and unmaintained residential stands.

“The idea of repossession is supported in principle after taking note of the fact that most of these undeveloped stands are generally neglected, overgrown and encourage refuse dumping, rodent breeding among others things,” said Dr Hwalima.

“It’s also suggested that those spared from repossession should maintain their stands free of overgrown shrubs and grass as well as dumped refuse”.

The BCC has in the past expressed concern at the high number of residential and commercial stands that have remained underdeveloped over the years.

Some land owners have attributed failure to develop their stands to the challenging economic situation. According to council regulations, if an owner fails to develop a stand for two years, the local authority can repossess it without paying any compensation.

The city’s housing waiting list has more than 100,000 people as both council and private land developers are failing to cope with the high number of home seekers.