The residents claim they entered the rent-to-buy scheme in 2000 and are now entitled to the houses. Nyazura Town Council has remained adamant that residents have not paid enough money to acquire the houses.
The dispute, which has been in the High Court, has resulted in a fractured relationship between residents and the local authority. The High Court order noted that the two parties had settled the housing dispute, including the issue of costs and ownership. The order also took into consideration that previous payments made by residents as rentals constituted part of the purchase price and the council was supposed to calculate the remainder to be paid by each individual member.
“Members willing to purchase the houses may pay the remainder of the purchase price either as one lump sum payment or installments paid as monthly rentals,” reads the order.
Makoni Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Edward Pise, professed ignorance of the matter, saying he was not aware of any dispute with residents.
“I am not aware of that issue. If there are residents who claim to be fully paid let them come forward and show proof. There is no issue at all,” said Pise.
However, residents lashed out at the local authority for taking them for a ride.
“They should allow us to assume full ownership of the houses immediately,” fumed Lazarus Nyarungwe, one of the residents.
Nyarungwe added that they occupied the houses when Nyazura Township was under Tsungwesi Rural Council.
“When Nyazura merged with other rural councils to form Makoni Rural District Council in 1993, we believe that’s when our agreements were tampered with,” he said.
Nyazura Residents and Ratepayers Association Chairperson, Cleopas Zvaita, added that the initial agreement was that residents would take full ownership of the houses in 2000.
“We are still paying $14 per month and the council is disregarding the agreements we had entered with Tsungwesi Rural Council. We are considering taking necessary steps to make sure that we have our houses,” added Zvaita.
Post published in: News