Gweru City councillors have raised concern on the slow pace at which Mkoba 21 residential stands are being developed, saying the more than a decade standstill is unacceptable.
Council availed the approximately 6 000 residential stands in 2014 to home seekers but to date houses are yet to be constructed.
Speaking at a recent ordinary council meeting, councillor Tedious Chimombe said council officials should address the Mkoba 21 stands issue with urgency so that beneficiaries could start building their houses.
“Surely these stands were allocated in 2014 but to date no houses have been built by beneficiaries,” Chimombe said.
“Council should have a time frame for developers of these stands to complete what has been agreed with them.
“It is unacceptable that as council we start housing projects yet we spend more than a decade to complete them.”
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Councillor Chikwira weighed in and said council should expedite the process of ensuring that requirements of the housing scheme move with speed.
“There should be urgency on the side of council to ensure that the housing project moves with speed,” he said.
In response, assistant engineer Praymore Mhlanga admitted that development of the residential stands was overdue but said investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on the housing project had delayed the process.
“Yes, we take note of the concerns by councillors on the progress of the housing project,” Mhlanga said.
“The housing project underwent investigations by Zacc and there should be a written clearance by Zacc to the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
“Once that clearance is made we should be able to push the developers so that we have progress in the development of these stands.”