The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Government will not give title deeds to beneficiaries of the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle housing project in Bulawayo and Beitbridge as the areas have not been title surveyed yet.
A Land Title Survey is a comprehensive investigation and evaluation of significant factors affecting and influencing boundary location, ownership lines, rights of way and easements within or immediately surrounding a certain area of real estate.
The survey locates, determines or re-establishes on the ground the perimeters, division lines or boundaries and areas of a certain pieces of land. Its purpose is for the issuing of title deeds and therefore should include greater detail not normally gathered in an ordinary survey.
There have been several calls to hand over the houses in Bulawayo as the beneficiaries have been paying for several years.
However, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde July Moyo, said some of the houses were built without following proper procedures followed.
“It is true that there are houses that were built under Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle. Those houses, in some cases, were built in areas which were not title surveyed and we are busy trying to make sure that where it has happened we will fix it. I know that in Bulawayo and Beitbridge, we have some and we are busy trying to ensure that the planning is done and we engage people so that we can survey for title. As soon as we do that, we will be able to give title to the residents of those areas,” he said.
An expert in civil engineering said if a land title survey is being carried out for residential areas, a registered surveyor needs to do the work.
“When you want title deeds to be given to a property owner, a registered surveyor with the Surveyor-General’s Office needs to survey the area and see to it that it satisfies council requirements then one can get their title. If a structure does not meet the required standards, maybe one may be asked to demolish the structure or get other orders to ensure they conform to the requisite standard,” he said.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Councillor, Tinashe Kambarami, said he was yet to be apprised on the matter and also tour the area.
“The Mayor and I are yet to be apprised on the project, we are supposed to do a site visit to the housing project so that we see what has been done and what is yet to be done so that we get an appreciation of the project. At the moment it will be premature to talk much on the happenings in Cowdray Park. No reports also have been tabled before us with regards to Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle project too,” he said.
