The Sunday News
MASVINGO Rural District Council has resolved to repossess all undeveloped residential and commercial stands some of which have been lying idle for over 10 years, an official has said.
The Rural District Council’s chief executive officer, Mr Martin Mubviro, said the council was losing potential revenue as many stands have been undeveloped for a long time and the council had passed a resolution to repossess them.
“When one secures a residential or commercial stand there is a stipulated period within which he or she is expected to develop it, failure of which the person should come forward to explain.
“In the case that they fail to explain the stand can be repossessed by council.
“We have quite a number, about 100 stands which have not been developed, for a period stretching to more than 10 years,” said Mr Mubviro.
Mr Mubviro said the targeted stands were those that have been lying idle for over six years and as provided in the statutes, they would be repossessed and given to more serious people.
“This is work in progress and preference shall be given to those ready to develop. Original owners should be notified and allowed to write notice of objection in 14 days from the day of notification of repossession.
“The time of notification is from 29 June. We are carrying this exercise throughout the district and all the stands that fall in the said category will not be spared.
“We want serious people who are ready to develop.
“We have also realised that some people who have not been able to develop their stands are multiple owners who have properties somewhere and are reluctant or because of costs are unable to develop both stands,” he said.
Masvingo and Bulawayo City Councils have also given notices to people who have not developed their properties for more than 10 years that they risk losing them.
