Stands for flood victim families

THE Masvingo City Council says it will identify land in Runyararo Northwest suburb
for the relocation of the 21 families who are perennial victims of flooding in that
suburb.

The 21 families, from Davis Mugabe Street, have been victims of flooding every rainy
season and the local authority earlier this year planned to move them in phases.
According to the latest minutes of Health, Housing and Environmental Services, the
city fathers have directed the Director of Housing and Social Services, Simbarashe
Mandishona, to identify an area, preferably in Runyararo Northwest suburb.
During the 2022-23 rainy season Masvingo Municipality moved the victims to the
District Development Fund (DDF) site, a temporary solution, fearing the houses
could collapse.

“Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing and Social Services
on the relocation of Davis Mugabe residents. It was reported that each year,
residents of Davis Mugabe Street in Runyararo West experience challenges of
flooding.
“Last season, those residents were temporarily moved to the District Development
Fund Training Centre, but a long lasting solution is required,” reads part of the
minutes.

The city fathers came up with the recommendation that since 21 families were
affected, therefore, 21 stands will be identified, preferably in Runyararo Northwest
suburb.

“The committee resolved to recommend that the Director of Engineering Services,
Kudzaishe Mbetu, in liaison with the Director Housing and Social Services, be
instructed to identify 21 residential stands in one of its areas, preferably Runyararo
Northwest and advise the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works of the
availability of such stands, wherein the Ministry’s Disaster Protection Unit will map
the way forward.”

Meanwhile, the local authority has resolved to evict tenants who have been staying
illegally in the council rented houses for a period less than five years.
Following the declaration by the local authority that they will be selling houses to
sitting tenants, there has been an influx of those who had moved out reclaiming the
houses hoping to capitalise on the envisaged sales.

According to the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee minutes,
council has resolved to evict all tenants residing in council rented houses while
owning property elsewhere in Masvingo.

“It was reported that there was a number of illegal tenants in council houses since
the idea of selling houses to sitting tenants started. People who had moved out long
back were now reclaiming the houses whilst others were subletting.

“The rental houses are part of council’s social housing delivery programme, wherein
the idea is to assist those in need and vulnerable and the moment one relocates or
owns a house, the property reverts to council.

“All illegal tenants be evicted and regularisation of illegal tenants be done to those
who have would have stayed in the house for a period not less than five years.”
The local authority, under the homeownership scheme, has 25 housing units that are
earmarked for disposal under Phase 2 in which the committee stressed the need to
consider orphans and long-sitting tenants.