MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU–The River Valley Group of Companies has appealed to local authorities to work closely with the developer when approving housing plans in Hertfordshire to curb cases of double allocation.
The appeal comes amid reports that unauthorised third parties are illegally selling residential stands to unsuspecting home seekers.
Hertfordshire is state land allocated to the River Valley Group for housing development in 2007.
The company says these unauthorised actors have encroached on the area, creating confusion and potential losses for home buyers.
River Valley Group chief executive officer, Ambassador Smelly Dube, said the company remains the legitimate developer for the suburb and urged Gweru City Council and Vungu Rural District Council to exercise due diligence before approving any construction plans.
“We are a trusted brand focused on growth, transparency and delivering value to our clients, while complementing government efforts to provide decent housing for all,” Dube said.
She added that the company had remained resilient despite years of legal scrutiny and had emerged stronger after prolonged court battles.
“Despite the challenges we faced as a company, we remain focused on growth and delivering housing to the people, as enunciated in the National Development Strategy 1,” Dube said.
“We are now moving forward with renewed confidence and determination. We therefore appeal to our local councils to ensure that all houses built in our jurisdiction comply with inspectorate and town planning requirements.”
Dube made the remarks during a beginning of the year staff engagement meeting at River Valley Gweru headquarters yesterday.
She said River Valley had entered the year with renewed vigour to uplift communities through the delivery of decent housing, guided by transparency and stakeholder engagement.
“What matters most is that we have won the hearts of our clients. We continue to engage stakeholders constructively while upholding all contractual agreements,” she said.
Dube revealed that development of the Woodlands gated suburb is progressing well, with sewer and drainage rehabilitation works already completed.
Recurring flooding and clogged drains in Woodlands Phase 2 had previously sparked public outrage due to waste dumped into drainage systems and undesignated areas.
However, the company has since introduced clean-up campaigns in the suburb and intensified community education on environmental management to curb blockages and flooding.
“This initiative, borrowed from the Presidential monthly clean-up programme, has significantly improved environmental cleanliness, as residents have taken ownership of the campaign in line with the smart cities vision,” Dube added.
River Valley project manager, Isheanopa Dube, said significant progress had been made in addressing infrastructure challenges, including the completion of a 750 metre storm-water drain.
“Residents should expect continued infrastructure development activities as the company focuses on improving drainage and road quality in Woodlands,” he said.
“We have plans to install tarred roads after successfully completing a major solar-powered water project.”
The developments, Dube said, are part of efforts to modernize the Woodlands suburb.
Beyond Hertfordshire and Woodlands, River Valley Group has expanded its housing development footprint to Bulawayo, Zvishavane and Shurugwi, positioning itself as a key player in Zimbabwe’s housing delivery sector.
