Khami Road project to displace 700 residents

Blessed Moyo, Sunday News Reporter

MORE than 700 Bulawayo residents are facing imminent displacement as the city council pushes forward with its ambitious road development project, which is part of its master plan aimed at transforming the city’s infrastructure.

According to the masterplan, a major road linking Khami Road to Amakhosi is set to be constructed, a project that will necessitate the demolition of several houses in the Bulawayo Municipal Compound area.

The expanded road, designed to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance connectivity, will pass directly in front of the affected properties, rendering them uninhabitable.
Speaking to Sunday News, Ward 4 Councillor, Thandiwe Moyo said that according to the master plan, the road expansion will require the destruction of existing structures to accommodate the widened thoroughfare.

“Only a block was supposed to be destroyed, however, council officials who held a meeting with the BMC residents association specified that everything is going to be destroyed,” said Clr Moyo.

The project, part of the city’s broader infrastructure development initiative, is expected to commence soon, with residents already expressing concerns over the impending displacement and potential disruption to their lives.

Clr Moyo expressed concern over people who are soon going to lose accommodation as the city council has not made any promise or plan to provide alternative housing to the BMC residents.

“The City Council is not going to organise accommodation for anyone who has been renting at the BMC houses as they have been served with notices of eviction months before the bulldozers move in.

“The majority of the original residents, who were council staff, have retired and moved out, leaving the houses in the hands of tenants. The council’s decision to demolish the houses and expand the road from Khami Road to Amakhosi has been motivated, in part, by the desire to revitalise the area and address the neglected state of the properties,” she said.

A vehicle navigates its way around a pothole on Khami Road in Bulawayo

The councillor further revealed that the local authority will only be finding alternative accommodation to the few council workers who were still using the compound.
“The City Council is not going to provide housing for the residents of BMC because they are renting on Council’s properties. The Council only promised to organise accommodation to its few workers who are still staying there when the development kicks in,” she said.
Clr Moyo revealed that the residents have submitted a plea to the council, requesting that they be relocated to available units in city-owned flats.

“They even asked the city council to at least try and repair the neglected Vundu Flats so that they can moved there, however, the council did not respond to their request,” said Clr Moyo.

“Despite being informed of the council’s intentions, some residents have refused to accept the decision, citing emotional attachment to their homes, which they have occupied for over 20 years.”

The councillor noted that while some residents have reluctantly accepted the fate of their homes, others remain adamant that the council will not proceed with the demolitions.
She said that resistance has sparked tensions between the council and the affected residents, with some vowing to take further action to protect their properties.
A couple of years ago a council investigation revealed that some retired workers who were renting the BMC houses had vacated the properties in Makokoba and were sub-letting them, with some turning them into brothels.

According to the council report, out of 142 units within the compound, just 15 were occupied by serving employees.
The units which are a tied accommodation format (provided as a part of a person’s job and is conditioned by the worker’s continued employment) have their rentals pegged at $35.