Residents petition Chombo over stalled $1,5m housing project

By The NewsDay | Feb. 6, 2012 | 2 Min read

MASVINGO Some 200 beneficiaries of a $1, 5 million housing project which stalled several years ago after it was placed under reconstruction have petitioned Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo urging him to intervene to save their investments. A committee representing beneficiaries of the Runyararo South-West Housing Scheme Association asked Chombo to intervene in what they […]

A committee representing beneficiaries of the Runyararo South-West Housing Scheme Association asked Chombo to intervene in what they called a standoff with the Masvingo City Council.

The housing project, run by Zanu PF returnee and former Mavambo/Khusile/Dawn strongman Retired Major Savious Kudzai Mbudzis firm, Treasure Consultants, was placed under curatorship following a dispute with the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ). IDBZ funded Mbudzis firm.

The petition has also been copied to Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke, government-appointed administrator Afaras Gwaradzimba, Mbudzi, the Joint Operations Command (JOC Masvingo) and Masvingo mayor Femius Chakabuda.

We are yet to benefit from the housing scheme because of the problems which we have now identified as being of the City of Masvingos making. What happened to our payments sunk into these properties (stands and houses)? Who will compensate us? We are awaiting statutory inspections by the City of Masvingo.

However, the council declined to do the inspections and approve the on-site services as the planning authority, read part of the petition, signed by the associations chairman, Obert Jaravaza.

Masvingo town clerk Adolf Gusha refused to comment on the issue while Chakabuda professed ignorance of the developments.

I was on leave and I am just coming into the office now. I have not yet seen the petition, but, all I can say is that we can only speak to the administrator. We do not even know the beneficiaries. As far as we are concerned, Treasure Consultants is under reconstruction, Chakabuda said.