BY BRENNA MATENDERE
HOME-SEEKERS in Shurugwi and Zvishavane who were allocated residential stands by a private land developer were given a raw deal as the stands are yet to be serviced, five years down the line.
RM Construction management came under fire yesterday when they appeared before the Justice Tendai Uchena (pictured) Land Commission in Gweru yesterday.
The land developer was allocated land for 1 200 stands under the Mabhula housing scheme in Zvishavane in 2014, but up to now, no meaningful development has taken place in terms of water and sewer servicing as well as road network.
The company also has another project in Shurugwi called Magakushula, which has in excess of 1 000 stands.
Commissioner Stephen Chakaipa took the company’s director, Martin Muzeza, to task over the snail’s pace at which stands were being serviced despite having collected money from prospective home-seekers.
“Since starting the projects, you have done very little there on the sites. You collected money from the people, including government employees who got stop-order facilities to pay you. If you had serviced the stands, they could have built their houses when building materials and other things were still cheap,” fumed the commissioner.
Muzeza said there were still some issues they were sorting out with the Zvishavane Town Council, but agreed more needed to be done.
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“We agree that we need to change the approach. There are some issues we are still ironing out with the local authorities, but soon all will be well,” said the director.
Chakaipa questioned why the land developer was quick in moving out villagers that formerly resided in the areas and compensating them, but had suddenly become apathetic, having completed the processes.
The land developer, after he was allocated the land, went on to construct houses for some of the affected villagers, even tilling their land for two consecutive seasons.
The land developers also confirmed they had paid the controversial $5 000 “administration fee” to former public works officer Matilda Manhambo whose case is now before the courts of law.
