EDWIN MOYO
GWERU- Residents of Mtapa Section 3 and 7 of Gweru are crying foul over accommodation crisis being compounded by delays in ownership finalisation process by City Council which they say lack transparency and honesty.
The crisis is so serious that a family of 12 people share one room at the affected sections exposing them to diseases, insecurity and lack of privacy.
In April, Gweru City Council, rolled out the Mtapa home ownership handover process in efforts to decongest the over populated high density suburb which is one of the oldest in the country.
The Council promised to offer housing stands to those who would have been evicted from Mtapa to decongest the area.
Gogo Irene Muradzikwa, of Section 3 said, Council made the beneficiaries of the ownership scheme to sign papers but the money required for the process is unaffordable.
“Council came and made us sign house ownership papers but the papers required exorbitant fees ranging from US$300 to 800 for the beneficiaries to be given their homes.
“These houses are not supposed to cost that much as people have been staying in those houses for more than 40 years paying rates and maintain them and some since the colonial era. We are beneficiaries of our fathers and mothers heritage through these houses. But look Council is busy charging us exorbitant fees. Where do we get that kind of money in this struggling economy.
“We have families which are over crowded, and the process is moving slowly. Brothers are sleeping with their sisters and mother and fathers can’t even enjoy their matrimonial conjugal rights because there is no privacy. How does Council want people to live. These rooms aren’t safe as well,” she added.
Another Resident, Gogo Eunice Tongogara said she could not afford the fees being charged by Council to permanently transfer ownership of the houses because she is broke.
“I no longer work, I rely on my children to look after me. Where can I get US$295 at once. I once served $100 and I sacrificed to go and pay but Council refused.
“They told me they want this money at once, what’s worrying is these payments were pegged differently and we don’t know why, why can’t we be given the same amounts of money. We are all beneficiaries of this ownership thing. We want proper houses, we can’t continue living like rats.
“My greatest fear now is, if I fail to pay this home probably, I won’t benefit someone else will be given. Look at my age where will I go and start a new life,” said Gogo Tongogara.
Meanwhile Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association ( GUPRARDA) director, Pastor David Chikore said the issue of the home ownership was still a thorn in the flesh for residents.
“Council says its working on home ownerships, but people are struggling and living in squalid conditions. Such ways of habitation are dangerous, how long can we continue to fight over the issue of giving people decent accommodation,” he said.
Gweru Acting Town Clerk, Livingstone Churu promised to visit Mtapa section 7 households to assess the situation.
Besides the issue of decent accommodation, Mtapa residents are enduring lack of proper ablution facilities, as more than 41 families in section 3 are still using an old public toilet which is a health time bomb.
