MP John Kuka
Stephen Chadenga
Mkoba South opposition MP John Kuka has expressed concern over the delay in servicing of Mkoba 21 stands, more than a decade since beneficiaries purchased the land.
Speaking recently in parliament during a question and answer segment Kuka said most beneficiaries of these stands were council workers who were either dying or retiring without developing their houses.
“We have a problem in Gweru regarding the Mkoba 21 stands,”Kuka said.
It’s now 11 years and beneficiaries are yet to start building houses. Our major challenge is that these stands mostly belong to council workers who are dying without benefitting from this housing project.”
“Some of the beneficiaries are pensioners who might end up failing to develop these stands. We therefore call upon the Local Government ministry to expedite the development of this project.”
In his response Local Government minister Daniel Garwe acknowledged that the project had delayed due to economic and other factors.
“But we are now saying there is no need for the continued delay,”he said.
“We therefore task you (MP Kuka) to explain to council workers if there is a delay, they should write to the ministry so that we summon council and also the developers to come and explain what is happening.”
Last year council threatened to withdraw contracts of underperforming land developers in the Mkoba 21 housing project.
Beneficiaries of the housing scheme bought the stands in 2014, but servicing of the land is yet to be completed to allow them to start building houses.
Three developers namely CASAS, Wackdrive and Sheasham were contracted to develop the residential stands.