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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Correspondent
HARARE City Council, which has numerous double allocation disputes flooding the civil courts, has hinted on its intention to compensate all “duped’’ home-seekers to bring closure to the matter.

The confusion caused by the council has seen some residents being at each other’s throats over land which was separately allocated to them by the same local authority.

According to Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee minutes, Director of Housing and Community Services Mr Addmore Nhekairo was seized with resolving matters which arose from double allocations.

“The decisions had resulted in parallel, hence the double allocations,” recent council minutes say.

“However, on cases that the Department of Housing and Community Services had received so far, identification of land for possible compensation had been made and the Department of Works had been engaged through the Finance Department to assist with the necessary town planning processes prior to allocation,” read the minutes.

The papers also read: “Reports seeking council authority to allocate the stands would be submitted to council as and when land for compensation had been availed.”

Meanwhile, the local authority has also approved the release of about $145 000 towards the refurbishment of social services facilities, including 15 toilets for council halls and Arcadia Swimming Pool.

“Council had 13 swimming pools, 11 of which were operational, 40 halls and community centres and five stadia.

“Council facilities were in a state of vandalism by the community. There was an outcry from the community and other stakeholders for council to refurbish and maintain the facilities to promote community development,” reads official documents.

The papers further read: “Council was courting partners to fund the refurbishment of facilities.

Refurbished facilities would improve council’s revenue base as well as enhancing community access to the facilities.”