Housing crisis: Council engages private developers

THE Bulawayo City Council has said its initial strategy of servicing stands and then building houses before handing the properties to occupants is no longer sustainable, hence it has resorted to engaging private developers to alleviate the housing crisis.

The local authority says the harsh economic climate is hampering its initial strategy to build houses for homeseekers. Addressing Magwegwe North residents at the commissioning of 490 residential stands, Acting Mayor Councillor Gift Banda, in a speech read on his behalf by Councillor Silas Chigora earlier this week, said the local authority had resorted to engaging private developers in its quest for housing delivery.

“Council in the past has used several strategies to provide housing to residents. The initial strategy which was used by the council was to carry out infrastructural development with regards to the servicing of stands, build houses and hand over the built houses to occupants. This, however, proved to be costly on the part of council and was thus not sustainable,” said Clr Banda.

He said while the majority of residents want council to revert to its initial system, the difficult economic situation continues to curtail its ability to build houses.

“Over the years, council has also used private developers to service the land and also sell stands to home seekers in Bulawayo. The other system that has been used is the presell scheme which was used to sell and thereafter service these stands,” said Clr Banda.