Chiyangwa's 250,000 stands projects raises alarm

A Harare-based liberal think tank, the Coalition for Market and Liberal Solutions (Comaliso), has raised concerns over the feasibility of businessman Phillip Chiyangwa's ambitious 250,000 housing stands project under Pinnacle Property Holdings, questioning the land acquisition process, availability of infrastructure funding, and surveying status of the stands.

In its analysis, Comaliso expressed skepticism regarding the infrastructure development required to support such a large project. It highlighted potential issues around land ownership verification and warned that, if not properly managed, the project could lead to protracted legal battles involving stand ownership and title deed issuance.

"When a private developer claims they can provide 250,000 stands, questions must be asked about the ownership of that land," Comaliso stated in a position paper. "Due diligence by the government is crucial to prevent future disputes over stand ownership."

The think tank also questioned whether the Registrar of Deeds and relevant authorities could handle the volume of title deeds required for such a project. With President Emmerson Mnangagwa underscoring the importance of secure title deeds for low-income homeowners, Comaliso emphasized that the project's success would depend heavily on streamlined titling processes to avoid a repeat of past housing debacles.

"In addition to our decade-long advocacy on this subject, the government has promoted several campaigns, such as Kwangu-Kwami Trust," Comaliso said. "Handling 250,000 title deeds will require robust systems, as any mismanagement could trigger massive litigation down the road."

When asked about the project's feasibility, Chiyangwa maintained that he had acquired the land legally but declined to address further questions on infrastructure and titling logistics. "I bought the land and I do not have the answers to the rest of the questions you are asking me," he stated.

Comaliso's position paper comes at a time when the government and the City of Harare have struggled to meet housing demand for low-income citizens, citing high costs of offsite and onsite infrastructure as a barrier. In 2022, then-Housing Minister Daniel Garwe admitted the government had only budgeted to build fewer than 250 houses, casting doubt on the feasibility of the 300,000 housing units promised in the 2018 election campaigns.

Comaliso's concerns over Chiyangwa's project reflect broader issues in Zimbabwe's housing sector, as its "Right to Shelter Act" petition - currently under parliamentary review - calls for simplified and credible titling processes to support homeownership for low-income citizens.

The Registrar of Deeds and Kwangu-Kwami Trust are now expected to ensure that title deeds for the project, if realized, are processed efficiently to avoid a future crisis of legal disputes over land ownership.