Zimpapers Logo

Kudzanai Sharara
The Harare City Council intends to enter into memorandum of agreement for a private public partnership with FBC Building Society for the servicing of residential stands in Kuwadzana phase 3. According to documents seen by The Herald Property Guide, the resolution to enter into the agreement was made on August 1, 2017 and adopted a few days later on August 3. According to the memorandum of agreement, FBC Building Society will service 858 stands for low cost houses comprised of 739 residential stands, five public open space, three crèches and six churches among other housing developments.

Officials from the City Council, who requested anonymity, said after the stands are serviced, council will proceed to sale and give title deeds to the beneficiaries while FBC Building Society will also offer mortgage facilities. In line with the new developments the City Council has since published a notice for the proposed alienation of municipal land in Harare. The notice is in terms of Section 152 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).

“As council we encourage such partnership as home seekers will get fully serviced stands than what we have seen in recent past where people are being allocated under-serviced stands.Through this partnership we are going to come up with quality infrastructure and the development is time framed to be complete within 24 months giving us quick returns as council.”

According to a notice published in the press, copies of the council resolution and the detailed terms and conditions of the proposed allocation will be open for inspection until November 1, 2017. The land in question is however still to be surveyed and is still awaiting engineering designs before further work can commence. Apart from entering into private public partnerships, the City of Harare is also using the housing pay scheme to avail houses to home seekers. Earlier this year the Harare City Council said it will avail at least 20 000 stands this year under the housing pay scheme in order to provide affordable houses to the people.

He also said housing pay schemes are proving an effective way of ensuring that prospective land owners acquire residential stands in line with proper council procedures while the residents have control over the land development process. Speaking, sometime in January during a tour of housing pay schemes in Warren Park and Westlea, Harare City Council acting director of Housing and Community Service, Retired Major Mathew Marara said housing pay schemes are proving an effective way of ensuring that prospective land owners acquire residential stands in line with proper council procedures while the residents have control over the land development process.