News / National
Gweru to sell 204 houses after sitting tenants fail to buy
2 hrs ago |
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The Gweru City Council (GCC) has announced plans to sell 204 dual-occupancy houses in Mkoba and Mtapa on the open market after legally recognised sitting tenants failed to take up Government-backed offers to purchase the properties under a long-standing home ownership scheme.
In a public notice, the council said the houses were originally earmarked for transfer to tenants shortly after independence in 1980, with formal purchase offers later extended under a government housing empowerment programme in the 1990s. However, many occupants have not taken up the opportunity, leaving the properties unsold for decades.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee confirmed the development, saying the local authority is now moving to dispose of the houses after years of inaction by tenants.
She said the scheme was designed to empower residents to own their homes, but some beneficiaries have instead failed to respond to purchase offers, while others are allegedly subletting the properties or allowing illegal occupants to move in.
According to the council, the houses were offered to sitting tenants at discounted rates, but maintenance has not been carried out in recent years because the expectation was that ownership transfers would have been completed.
Chingwaramusee said if current occupants do not take up the purchase option, the properties will be sold on the open market at prevailing valuations. She added that it is not yet possible to determine the total amount expected from the sales, as final prices will depend on market assessments.
She said proceeds from the disposal are expected to support new housing projects and urban renewal efforts aimed at improving infrastructure and giving the affected suburbs a facelift.
Council further stated that legal sitting tenants will still be given first preference, but if they decline, the houses will be made available to the general public.
The move is also intended to address long-standing concerns about illegal occupation and subletting, which the council says have undermined the original purpose of the post-independence housing empowerment programme.
In a public notice, the council said the houses were originally earmarked for transfer to tenants shortly after independence in 1980, with formal purchase offers later extended under a government housing empowerment programme in the 1990s. However, many occupants have not taken up the opportunity, leaving the properties unsold for decades.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee confirmed the development, saying the local authority is now moving to dispose of the houses after years of inaction by tenants.
She said the scheme was designed to empower residents to own their homes, but some beneficiaries have instead failed to respond to purchase offers, while others are allegedly subletting the properties or allowing illegal occupants to move in.
According to the council, the houses were offered to sitting tenants at discounted rates, but maintenance has not been carried out in recent years because the expectation was that ownership transfers would have been completed.
Chingwaramusee said if current occupants do not take up the purchase option, the properties will be sold on the open market at prevailing valuations. She added that it is not yet possible to determine the total amount expected from the sales, as final prices will depend on market assessments.
She said proceeds from the disposal are expected to support new housing projects and urban renewal efforts aimed at improving infrastructure and giving the affected suburbs a facelift.
Council further stated that legal sitting tenants will still be given first preference, but if they decline, the houses will be made available to the general public.
The move is also intended to address long-standing concerns about illegal occupation and subletting, which the council says have undermined the original purpose of the post-independence housing empowerment programme.
Source - The Chronicle
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