Herald Reporters
Close to 15 600 beneficiaries of the Nyatsime housing development in Chitungwiza have demanded permission to immediately occupy their stands before council has serviced the area. The beneficiaries want services to be provided when they have

occupied their properties while others are demanding a refund with some complaining they can no longer sustain rentals. Through their representatives, the residents expressed anger towards the municipality following reports that there was no money to develop the stands.

Part of the US$2.5 million raised from the project since 2009 has been used to pay salaries, legal fees and computer development with only US$544 855 going towards servicing the stands.
During a meeting with acting town clerk, Mr Fungai Mbetsa yesterday, the beneficiaries demanded that all assets that were allegedly bought using the Nyatsime money should be sold and the money redirected to servicing the stands.

Seven years ago, Chitungwiza sold residential stands in the virgin Nyatsime area where more than 15 000 residential and commercial stands were created.
Mr Mbetsa told the representatives that council was broke and was not able to continue work on the project. He wanted the beneficiaries to assist with ideas on the way forward.

The stands were bought during the Zimbabwe dollar era but when the multicurrency regime was introduced beneficiaries were asked to pay top ups of US$900, which included survey and title deeds fees.
The surveyor was never given an instruction to the title surveys, which the beneficiaries paid for.
It is that money, which Mr Mbetsa alleges was abused.