Demand for houses is rising in Bulawayo

Bulawayo's housing waiting list has climbed to 158,946 registered applicants, reflecting a deepening struggle for residential land as demand surges and cash-based stand purchases become increasingly dominant.

Council documents show that the spike is being fuelled partly by a growing influx of people from outside Bulawayo and the Matabeleland region who are securing stands through cash purchases, while long-serving local applicants - many of whom lack immediate funding - continue waiting for allocations.

Recent council minutes indicate that the capturing of waiting list forms into the AS400 computer system is ongoing, with nearly 159,000 entries now recorded.

"To date a total of 158,946 forms had been captured into the AS400 computer system," the report states.

While stand demand remains high, the city continues to process building projects at pace. Housing and Community Services Director Dictor Khumalo reported that about 1,200 building plans were handled in October 2025, with 451 completing the approval process. Of these, 268 plans - including townhouses, lettable units and a school hall - were approved, marking a 17.9 percent increase from September.

New building plans worth US$11.77 million were submitted in the same month, a 15.94 percent rise, with council generating over US$5.2 million in plan submission fees. However, building inspections declined, with 1,512 conducted - down 35 percent from the previous month - though inspection fees still brought in US$23,491.

Council operations remain constrained by manpower and mobility shortages. Though two vacant departmental posts were filled, six remain unoccupied, and non-functional council vehicles continue to limit field work.

As pressure on housing intensifies, the local authority is pushing ahead with converting municipal rental properties to homeownership. A combined 1,997 council houses across Iminyela, Mabuthweni, Emganwini, Mzilikazi and Makokoba have been converted so far, leaving 716 units still to transition.

Meanwhile, sanitation upgrades in Iminyela and Mabuthweni continue, with 10 toilets completed and 217 partly done in Iminyela, while 484 have been finished in Mabuthweni. Around 1,331 toilet units remain outstanding across the two suburbs.

With demand sharply outstripping supply, Bulawayo faces sustained pressure to secure more land for residential development - and to balance access between cash buyers and long-waiting residents hoping for affordable stands.