Claim: Bulawayo deputy mayor Councillor Mlandu Ncube has said that being on the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) housing waiting list was not a guarantee that a prospective house owner will get a residential stand.
“Residents should be told that being on the house waiting list and having a waiting list form was not a guarantee of getting a stand,” said Cllr Ncube was quoted in the latest council report.
Contacted to explain further on the issue, Cllr Ncube said it was a requirement for a prospective homeowner to be on the council housing waiting list.
However, due to financial challenges, the local authority does not have the funds to fully service stands and requires those on the waiting list to pay a deposit for the stand.
“Currently, the challenge that we are having is that it is different from what used to happen long back that Council will build houses and give people,” said Ncube.
He said at the moment, Council needs money to service those stands before giving residents to occupy, “so the issue now is that having an old form gives you an advantage more than others but the final requirement is that do you have that certain percentage that is required by the advert for you to pay.”
Meanwhile, Corporate Communications Manager, Nesisa Mpofu added that the allocation of stands is dependent on the allocation policy.
“Even if the applicant has a Housing Waiting List form and can not raise the deposit required it, therefore, follows that he/she can not be assisted to get a stand at that point in time unless they comply. In pre-payment schemes the deposits are raised to kick-start servicing therefore if an applicant can not participate as required it means the project can not progress,” she said.
“Applicant should meet the requirements of the scheme/project area ie. Have a housing waiting List Form that is renewed. Be able to pay for the stand offered and meet Council offer conditions as stipulated in the relevant project area.”
Mpofu said the requirements for the new housing waiting list form includes National Identification cards including of a spouse if married, birth certificate for applicant and family (if married), marriage certificate/ divorce decree order/ death certificate (where applicable, a fee of ZWL$598 or equivalent bank rate (cash, swipe, Eco-cash, one money, e.t.c) and all documents should be original, no copies required.
Mpofu added that currently, 125 000 people are on the BCC housing waiting list.
