VICTORIA Falls City Council has suspended the sale of middle and high-density unserviced stands that was supposed to begin this Monday.
With a more than 15 000 housing waiting list, the city council is under pressure to allocate stands to home seekers.
However, after announcing early this month that more than 400 stands will be released with vetting to take place between Monday and Friday this week, and that each beneficiary will pay US$3 000 and US$5 000 deposit for high-density medium-density stands respectively, pressure has been mounting from residents who feel the cost of the stands is too exorbitant.
Beneficiaries should be on the waiting list, up to date with their payments, and be able to pay a deposit and complete the amount within 18 months.
Residents led by a section of influencers in the city convened a meeting and came up with a petition that has been signed by scores of others with the aim of forcing council to stop the sale of stands forthwith.
“The residents are disappointed and furious at how Vic Falls City Council is handling this intended allocation of residential stands,” said some residents in a position paper after a meeting.
They said council should not be left to allocate unserviced stands to residents as there will be a repetition of Mkhosana BD46 situation where residents have gone for more than 20 years without sewer system after housing stands were allocated before servicing.
Residents said they were ready to demonstrate against the council if it proceeds to allocate the stands.
They want President Mnangagwa to intervene in the issue, saying there was corruption within the city council.
“A petition is being signed and will be served to council soon. The president will receive it too,” said residents who were understood to be mobilising each other over the weekend.
Facing pressure, the council management suspended the sale of stands.
“Victoria Falls City Council hereby notify the public that due to unforeseen circumstances the sale of high and medium density Kazungula residential scheme has been postponed. Council will advise the public on the new dates of vetting and sale. Any inconvenience is sincerely regretted,” said Town Clerk Ronnie Dube in a statement.
