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Blessing Malinganiza Herald Reporter
Harare City Council has given a three-month ultimatum to residents of various settlements that were recently ordered to pay regularisation fees of $1 500.

The city’s acting corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme, in a statement yesterday, said each household was expected to pay the amount, failure of which the local authority would withdraw the offer letters.

“Each household is expected to pay the amount above (in statement) within three months from the date of the allocation and failure to do so, council will withdraw the offer letter and the stand within seven days written notice to remedy the breach.

“Payments made by the beneficiary shall be refunded after a deduction of 50 percent penalty fee.

“Each household is expected to pay the intrinsic land value as determined by the city valuer and estates manager within three months from the date of allocation. The intrinsic land value should be paid at the relevant district office,” he said.

Mr Chideme said building plans would be submitted after payment of the relevant fees, and all residents in these settlements should only take instructions on the payment of the intrinsic land and regularisation fees from council officials.

The regularised settlements are in Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Warren Park, Kambuzuma (Aspindale), Mabvuku, Glen Norah and Glen View.

“No other authority outside council has jurisdiction over the pieces of land and, it has come to the attention of the council that some individuals who include Members of the House of Assembly are convening meetings discouraging the payment of the fees to council. Such instructions are not only illegal, but are meant to disempower the people,” he said.

Council recently wrote to the stand beneficiaries through offer letters setting the guidelines on the operation of the payment schemes.

The beneficiaries had been given a 24-month period within which all services should be in place from the date of official allocation.