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The Government of Zimbabwe will rehabilitate Harare suburbs infrastructure, which consists of “roads, sewer systems, water pipes, and street lights”, after house owners acquire title deeds, the Minister of Justice, Parliamentary and Legal Affairs, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi said on Friday.
Minister Ziyambi’s remarks come at a time when both high and low density suburbs in Harare are grappling with poor service delivery, punctuated by a frequently broken down sewer system, erratic water supplies and unreliable refuse collection among other ills.
The situation has also worsened as land barons and co-operatives issue stands in unauthorized areas, resulting in some structures being built on wet lands.
Most residential stands that are parcelled out by land barons result in unplanned construction as they are not serviced. They lack serviced roads, sewer and water reticulation systems or street lights.
Speaking at the National Real Estate Day in Harare last week, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi, who was the guest of Honor, said the government was committed to rehabilitating urban suburbs when everyone acquires title deeds. He added the government was delaying development because house owners in most urban areas don’t have deeds.
“Once people have title deeds, a lot will be done. Some house owners in Mbare and Glennorah have no deeds, so we wish if we give everyone deeds, it’s easier to develop urban suburbs, because it’s difficult for us to develop areas that are not permanent,” he said.
The Minister also said the government will amend the Estate Agents Act to ensure transparency and prevent bogus agents from selling properties to the unsuspecting public.
“We are considering undertaking amendments to this Act to further strengthen these protections and eliminate the scourge of illegal and unregistered estate agents who prey on innocent members of our society,” he said.
During the 2023 general elections campaigning period, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised to give Epworth residents title deeds.
Some residents in the suburb of Glenwood have received title deeds to their properties.
In an interview with 263 Times, one of the beneficiaries who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We already have title deeds. The President is a man of his word, but we are now asking the local authority to construct proper sewer systems, clean tap water and tarred roads, because during the rainy season we struggle a lot with the roads.”