Property developer in trouble over stands

Government-appointed Shabanie and mashaba mines administrator arafas Gwaradzimba has been dragged to court by residents of timire park mediumdensity suburb in ruwa on the outskirts of Harare for failing to service their stands.

Gwaradzimba is listed as the chairperson and owner of Sharpnex trading Company private Limited in the agreement of sale, and is the land developer in timire park, where over 3 154 individuals bought stands from 2012. the stands range from 282 to 5 298 square meters. in a High Court application case number 6182/20 filed by timire park ratepayers and residents association (tiprra), the applicants want a ruling directing Gwaradzimba’s company and the ruwa Local Board to fulfil the development permit agreement.

“tarred roads construction, establishment of sewer and water reticulation, storm drainages, electricity reticulation, construction of culverts and inverts should be completed as per the agreement on development permit,” tiprra submitted.

Gwaradzimba and the ruwa Local Board are cited as the first and second respondents respectively.

tiprra also pleaded with the court to grant them an order that “will see Sharpnex trading Company private Limited surrendering the property to the residents' association so that we engage competent people and for the costs to be borne by the first defendent.”

in an opposing affidavit, Gwaradzimba blamed hyperinflation for the delays.

“From the time of the first sale of the stands in 2012 until February 18, 2019, the development costs for the scheme were in United States dollars,” he argued.

“at the present moment, approximately US$8,5 million is required to complete the servicing and other elements of the scheme.

“through Statutory instrument 33 of 2019 enacted on February 19, 2019, the currency regime changed abruptly from multi-currency to dual currency regime.

“Similarly the aforesaid change in currency resulted in hyperinflation.”

in october last year, a pre-trial conference was held between the two parties at Gwaradzimba Belgravia offices, but there was no agreement.

Gwaradzimba was present at the pre-trial conference.