Rebecca Tshoga
The wait for Masvingo residents on Rujeko D suburb waiting list will soon be over as council will start preparations to service the stands before issuing them out to beneficiaries.
Masvingo City Council is set to embark on a programme to service the stands so that the local authority can begin clearing the long waiting list.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa confirmed the development and said council is expecting house servicing as soon as they get the funding.
“The Rujeko D house servicing is still in progress but we are expecting to start as soon as November,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
Lack of funding has been cited as one of the major hindrances to infrastructure development.
Council applied to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in May this year for borrowing powers to raise more than US$ 7 Million to cater for housing and procurement of equipment, and part of the funds would go to the servicing of Rujeko D housing schemes.
“Negotiations with the Ministry of Local Government and Public works are still underway. As soon as funding comes in we will start the proper servicing of houses as we start issuing out stands to residents,” added Eng Mukaratirwa.
Stands surveyed in Rujeko D by Council are awaiting approval of layout by the Department of Physical Planning.
Council is hoping to have as many high density suburb stands as possible.
“The stands we are expecting are slightly above 700, as we wait for provision of offsite sewer reticulation infrastructure,” he said.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mutimba confirmed that residents are expecting the servicing of stands at Rujeko D to be complete so that they get their own properties.
“The servicing of stands at Rujeko D comes at a time when many residents are facing housing challenges, so this will allow residents their right to shelter,” said Mutimba.
Council suspended selling residential stands and the city’s housing backlog would be reduced through opening up more land for housing at Rujeko D.
“After servicing the housing backlog in the city will be reduced and residents will enjoy their right to shelter,” Mutimba said.
The Rujeko D project will also help in controlling the clustering of residents in the high density suburbs considering the growing population in the city.
“The population is getting larger by the day. A lot of people have been on the housing backlog list for over 10 years, so it is a right move for people who are renting houses which is becoming very expensive, so buying own stands will be helpful economically,” remarked Mutimba.
