Private developers cost council millions

PRIVATE land developers in the city have cost the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) over $8,5 million in unfinished projects which has seen the local authority now engaging property owners to fund the completion of development work.

The development has seen 22 projects on both council and private land left without critical services like water, sewer or road connectivity.

According to the local authority's senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, Cowdray Park was the most affected with nine different developers leaving the projects incomplete, with a total of 2 587 housing stands.

At five of these projects in the suburb the developers only did one percent that was required of them in terms of water and sewer reticulation.

"Over the years the provision of housing has been mainly the responsibility of council, whereby the local authority would service stands and construct low cost houses for people on the waiting list. With time, especially in the 1990's, the private sector began to take part in housing provision where a number of companies were offered land by Council.

"On the other hand private developers who own large tracks of land have subdivided it to form private townships. They obtain subdivision permits from Council to enable them to develop townships. In an endeavour to have the projects completed Council's strategy has been to engage the developers developing on Council land and the beneficiaries of those developments on private land to contribute towards the outstanding works," said Mrs Mpofu.

She said in most cases the local authority inherited the incomplete work, where there would also engage the developer but also having the beneficiaries paying for the outstanding work so that council uses the money towards the completion of the projects.

Although the council spokesperson refused to name private developers she revealed that other affected projects are in Pumula South, where three developers have gone AWOL with 1 634 housing stands affected, Pelandaba West with two developers and 1 347 housing stands and Mahatshula where 300 housing stands were developed by two private developers and left hanging.

Some residents from Mahatshula early this year approached then mayor asking him to intervene over unfinished road works.

In Selbourne Park one developer left 76 houses without water connectivity while 36 percent of the sewer works were done and 60 percent of the roads were complete.

Other affected areas are in Emganwini (97 stands) and Parklands (136 stands).

Development works done on private land left hanging are Mqabuko Heights where the developer did 10 percent of the water connectivity and 85 percent of the roads.

In Buena Vista where the developer set up 278 stands, 10 percent of the water connectivity was done and roads stand at 85 percent while at Dlamini Township where there are 60 stands, 10 percent of the water connectivity was done and 40 percent of the roads was done.

"Other areas with residential development which have outstanding works are the Rangemore areas. These areas fall within Umguza Rural District Council (URDC). High density residential estates are being developed in the areas. BCC and URDC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for BCC to be the water authority in this area.

The costs of putting up the water and sewer services are to be borne by the beneficiaries," said Mrs Mpofu

In the last couple of years the local authority had set aside the engagement of private developers instead opting for a pre-sell strategy where they sell off stand to beneficiaries then use the money to develop the stands.

A couple of months ago the local authority released 502 medium-density stands in Emhlangeni and 213 in Pumula South.