The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
A SERIOUS health hazard looms at Gimboki South Housing Scheme in Mutare’s Dangamvura high-density suburb where more than 3 000 families have illegally settled on un-serviced housing stands with no water and sanitation services. The obtaining situation which is likely to worsen with the coming of the rainy season has threatened the livelihood of adjacent communities that have since lodged complaints with the local authority.
Occupants of the un-serviced stands have either dug Blair toilets or are using the bush system to relieve themselves while water manholes in nearby serviced communities have been vandalised and turned into public watering points.
Housing director Mr Stennard Mapurisa said council had only given the green-light for the occupation of Phase One of the project which had so far been fully serviced.
He said those occupying un-serviced stands were doing so illegally and they need to be removed to pave way for servicing.
“Only those staying in Phase One of the project have done so legally because the area has been fully serviced with water and sanitation services. The rest are doing so at their peril,” he said.
A visit to the housing scheme showed that most beneficiaries have occupied un-serviced pieces of land.
They have since dug Blair toilets, while garbage is being thrown into open pits infested with flies.
Those interviewed said they risked occupying their stands because the housing scheme, which is riddled with allegations of corruption and theft of funds, has taken years to be completed.
“If you don’t occupy your stand the next thing you will hear is that someone has been allocated the same. There is a lot of corruption going on here and we saw it wise to come and settle and fight it from our pieces of land we paid for. We have dug Blair toilets and we fetch water from nearby communities,’’ said a beneficiary who requested anonymity.
With the haphazard nature in which the beneficiaries are building makeshift dwellings, it is going to be difficult for developers to construct sewer and water pipes as well as make roads.
Residents of Area 3 community which is adjacent to the housing scheme have appealed to council to address the situation before imminent water-borne disease outbreaks spill into their houses.
They said they were unfairly being placed in danger as a result of illegal occupation of the un-serviced stands.
“I have not fenced my house and people from the housing scheme are coming to fetch water from my taps during my absence. This has hiked my water bills. Council must do something about this because we must not suffer,” said a resident who chose not to be named.
The scheme which is being run by the Mutare Housing Consortium started in July 2007 with little progress as some groups in the scheme have abused development funds.
Criminal proceedings have been lodged against some of the groups while council recently threatened to make police reports against those failing to account for money they collected from beneficiaries.
