188 beneficiaries to lose housing stands in Bulawayo

Source: 188 beneficiaries to lose housing stands in Bulawayo – herald

Raymond Jaravaza ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw

THE City of Bulawayo has announced the move to repossess 188 housing stands in Luveve 4, Pumula South, Luveve 5 and Mahatshula suburbs whose beneficiaries have failed to develop them.

The stands will be re-allocated to deserving individuals on the city’s housing waiting list.

According to council, two stands are in Luveve 4 suburb, 23 in Luveve 5 and 112 beneficiaries in Mahatshula, with 51 identified in Pumula South.

In a public notice yesterday, Bulawayo City Council Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dub, said beneficiaries have until 25 August to prove why the stands should not be repossessed.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to notify all beneficiaries who have failed to develop and are in breach of the conditions of sale that council intends to repossess the stands and re-allocate them to deserving beneficiaries on the housing waiting list as per council housing policy,” said Mr Dube.

“To remedy the situation, affected beneficiaries are required within 30 days (25 August 2026) of this notice to visit the Housing and Community Services Department to show cause why Council should not proceed with the planned repossessions.

“Failure to respond within the stated period will result in council proceeding with the cancellation of the allocation and repossession of the stands without further notice.”

Beneficiaries with stands in Luveve 4 and 5, as well as in Pumula South, should visit council district housing offices in Luveve and Pumula suburbs respectively, while those in Mahatshula will have their queries attended to at the Tower Block offices.

The city’s housing waiting list has ballooned to about 140 000 applicants as demand for residential stands continues to outstrip supply, with city authorities under mounting pressure to accelerate land servicing amid an influx of returning Zimbabweans and rapid urbanisation.

The latest council Housing and Community Services Committee report indicates that the city’s housing backlog continues to widen despite ongoing efforts to service land and regularise settlements.

According to the report, councillors have expressed concern over the ever-growing waiting list, with some calling for greater transparency and fairness in the allocation of residential stands.

They stressed that residents who have remained on the waiting list for years should be prioritised ahead of new applicants, while urging council to expedite the servicing of land to meet rising demand.

Bulawayo mayor, Councillor David Coltart, is on record acknowledging the city’s housing deficit, saying council was working to unlock more land for residential development through partnerships with Government and private developers.

Housing experts say home ownership remains one of the biggest aspirations for many Zimbabweans, particularly those returning from the diaspora, who often invest their savings in residential properties upon returning home or while planning for retirement.

Councillors have said that while the city welcomes investment from returning Zimbabweans, it should ensure that residents who have patiently remained on the housing waiting list for many years are not disadvantaged.

Urban planning experts say the growing housing demand reflects renewed confidence in Bulawayo’s long-term prospects but warned that failure to service adequate land could fuel the proliferation of illegal settlements and unplanned developments.

Mr Winos Dube, chairman of the Bulawayo United Residents Association, encouraged the beneficiaries to visit the city district housing office for possible negotiations with council to avoid the repossession of the stands.

“Some of the beneficiaries could be late and their families are willing to proceed with developing the stands, so such scenarios can be ironed out if they negotiate with council to find a way forward,” he said.

“The economic situation is also not making it easy for some of the beneficiaries to develop their stands and it would be such a heavy loss if the stands are repossessed. I believe in such cases dialogue always goes a long way when council and the beneficiaries meet halfway and come to a mutually beneficial agreement,” said Mr Dube.