By Flata Kavinga
The Municipality of Redcliff says it is taking steps to address a housing waiting list backlog of about 700 active applicants, with repossession of undeveloped stands being rolled out as a short-term solution.
Addressing journalists soon after a full council meeting, Redcliff Housing and Community Services Acting Director, Enerst Chigwagwa, said the council had begun reclaiming land from beneficiaries who failed to meet conditions set in their agreements.
“To deal with the backlog, we are repossessing stands from those who did not meet the requirements. The repossessed land is now being offered to people on the housing waiting list,” Chigwagwa said.
He noted that the measure was expected to reduce the waiting list significantly.
“We believe from this repossession exercise we will be able to clear at least 50 percent of those on the list,” he added.
Chigwagwa said while repossessions were a short-term intervention, long-term solutions would focus on availing new residential stands.
“However, we cannot release new stands when there are still undeveloped stands held by people who are not paying or developing them. That land has to be put to proper use before we expand further,” he explained.
The municipality has been battling a growing demand for housing in recent years, with urbanisation and population growth piling pressure on limited land resources.
