Tongai Mashonga

REDCLIFF — The Municipality of Redcliff has started sending letters to residents who have defaulted on payments for their stands.

Addressing journalists in Redcliff, the council’s Housing and Community Services acting Director Ernest Chigwagwa said those who missed the April 20 deadline will receive letters regarding stand repossession.

The Redcliff Municipality announced a decisive move to reclaim approximately 1 200 undeveloped stands from residents who have not been paying or developing the stands since 2019.

This decision affects a wide range of allocated stands, including residential, high-density, medium-density, and low-density areas, dating back to allocations made in 2019.

“The cut-off date from the 30-day grace period in settling stand debts was 20 April 2025 and people came forward during that period and paid. We are now reviewing those who never showed up and writing letters of repossession of the stands,” he said.

The council issued a 30-day ultimatum to defaulting residents regarding 1 200 stands that were allocated urging residents to come forward or risk losing their stands.

While Chigwagwa confirmed that some residents responded to the deadline but was not at liberty to provide further details.

With the current waiting list for housing in Redcliff standing at about 1 500, the council aims to address this pressing issue by reallocating the repossessed stands to those in need. Areas such as Rutendo Extension are particularly impacted, accounting for over half of the stands slated for repossession.