BULAWAYO, Aug. 5 (NewsDay Live) – The long-delayed Magwegwe West housing project will resume next month after the City of Bulawayo won an arbitration case that had stalled servicing of the residential development.
The project, which has been delayed by macroeconomic challenges and a legal dispute, is expected to benefit hundreds of home seekers who have waited years for the development to proceed.
The city said it received the arbitration award on July 23, clearing the way for servicing works to restart.
The update was announced after Bulawayo Mayor Senator David Coltart and Acting Town Clerk Sikhangele Zhou met representatives of the Magwegwe West residents’ committee on Monday.
According to the local authority, the residential stands are part of its pre-sell housing projects that were disrupted by economic instability before becoming the subject of arbitration.
“The resolution of the arbitration case allows for the resumption of the servicing works in the area,” the city said.
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Bulawayo said contractors will return to the site on Sept. 1, with servicing works scheduled for completion by July 31, 2027.
The local authority urged beneficiaries to continue paying a required US$794 top-up fee to fund water and sewer infrastructure.
It said 172 beneficiaries had fully paid the top-up, 94 had made partial payments and 124 had yet to make any payments.
The city encouraged those with outstanding balances to settle their accounts to help speed up completion of the project.
Beneficiaries who have fully paid are now eligible to receive agreements of sale and begin processing building plans.
Once water and sewer infrastructure has been installed, roads upgraded to gravel standard and storm-water drainage completed, serviced stands will be handed over to beneficiaries to begin building their homes, subject to completion of the remaining administrative requirements.