Masvingo City Council to demolish 21 houses built on wetlands

By Staff Reporter

AT least 21 houses constructed on wetlands in Runyararo West suburb, Masvingo face demolition with the owners set to be relocated.

The relocation will be done in phases with the first batch of 13 houses built this year and the remainder between 2024 and 2025.

The houses are located along Davis Mugabe street in Runyararo West, a high density residential area in the city.

The suburb was hastily commissioned at the turn of the millennium after a high demand of residential properties just after the government extended a $50 000 golden hand shake to war veterans.

Majority of the property owners are war veterans.

Due to improper land planning and need to clear a ballooning housing waiting list, council ended up allocating stands on wetlands.

Every rainy season the affected houses are flooded, resulting in the loss of furniture.

Rockford Kamuzonda, the ward councillor and a member of the local authority’s public works committee confirmed the relocation and said the council had partnered government to build houses for the affected property owners.

“Council identified land in Rujeko which we have already serviced, funding has already been secured to start the construction of houses to compensate the affected property owners.

“The first 13 sets of four roomed  houses will be completed this year and the affected residents will be relocated,” he said.

He added that there will be no monetary compensation for the families.

However the affected residents said they feel short changed.

“I built an eight room house. How will my family fit in a four room house?

“They (council) even told us that we must also foot expenses to ferry our furniture, we are still in negotiation with them since it is the council who sold us these stands and they are to blame for our predicament,” said a house owner Concillia Bere.