Beneficiaries of the Judds Farm housing project in Gwanda have expressed growing frustration after more than a decade of delays and shifting commitments by both the land developer and the local authority.
The project, spearheaded by Harare-based Forit Contracting (Pvt) Limited, began in 2015 but has seen little to no meaningful development. Residents paid between US$3 000 and US$11 000 for stands across low, medium, and high-density areas, yet remain without access to their land.
“We have exhausted every avenue, but nothing has helped. We are now puzzled about what to do next. We have planned to move on site to erect makeshift shelters to show that we really want our stands,” one beneficiary said.
Another resident said numerous engagements with both the developer and Gwanda Municipality have yielded no results.
“Letters were sent countless times to the mayor, town clerk, Forit, the provincial minister, and many others, but all those efforts have been fruitless,” the resident said.
Beneficiaries revealed that the initial agreement allowed buyers to pay a US$1 000 deposit and begin construction while paying the balance in instalments. However, Forit later halted instalment payments, insisting that water and sewer infrastructure be completed first.
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Concerns have also been raised over possible mining claims on the land, with residents questioning whether there may have been a double allocation of stands.
In December last year, Gwanda Town Council agreed to renew Forit’s development contract following five years of inactivity. During a meeting held on December 2, councillors and homeseekers’ representatives were informed that the engineering department had directed the developer to service the stands within six months.
Forit proposed servicing over 300 stands within four months and more than 1 700 within 12 months. Councillors approved the contract renewal under strict monitoring, with a legal expert tasked with drafting the agreement.
However, beneficiaries say there is still no clear timeline on when the contract will be finalised and work will commence.
On November 7, Forit director Itai Madziyire assured residents that the council had committed to expediting the renewal process.
He noted that an earlier resolution to terminate the company’s contract had been reversed after it emerged that Forit had not been formally notified.
Beneficiaries entered into agreements of sale facilitated by Masawi and Partners, complete with approved layouts and stamped documentation. Despite this, nearly 11 years later, there has been no tangible progress on the ground.
“What we want is the land that we purchased,” a resident said. “People are tired of listening to endless stories.”