Residents protest as plots re-possessed

Mbongeleni Muleya, the Beitbridge Town Council Acting Director of Housing, confirmed the move to repossess undeveloped residential and industrial stands. It is in line with the councils valuation exercise under the Town Councils Act, said Muleya.

Under the Town Councils Act, a valuation exercise that involves re-possessing stands is done after every five years. He added: It is ongoing exercise which will be done in phases and we are repossessing the stands that show little or no attempt to develop them. The re-possessed stands will be re-sold.

Distressed residents hit out at the council for failing to appreciate the fact the economic crisis prevailing over the years has resulted in many people failing to develop their stands. Brilliant Mangena, who lost his stand said: The council should consider the fact that we wanted to develop the stands but the economic crisis at the time made it difficult. There were shortages of building material and at the same time we have no money. I am going to fight tooth and nail to regain my stand.

Stephen Makanhaire, who lost a stand he had planned to develop into a customs clearing agency said: The council is within its rights to repossess the stands, but it is not of out making that we failed o develop the stands. The council itself failed to deliver services over the years because of the economic crisis.

Industrial and residential stands in many parts of the country lie undeveloped due to financial problems associated with the past decades economic decline. Rampant inflation and shortages of building materials also made it difficult for ordinary people and businesses to develop their residential and industrial stands.