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Cllr Martin Moyo

Molline Gagare Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council is set to re-engage Umguza Rural District Council in land acquisition talks to address the shortage of housing and industrial development space.Bulawayo mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo said initial negotiations to acquire land from Umguza collapsed between 2007 and 2008 because of the hyperinflation era that the country was going through.

He said the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing would be involved in the forthcoming negotiations to ensure that the city gets more land for expansion purposes.

The mayor said if the talks succeed, the land would be paid for hence the municipality would have to seek funding to conclude the deal.

“This isn’t the first time Bulawayo City Council will be engaging in talks with Umguza. We’ve been trying for a long time. Initial talks collapsed between 2007 and 2008 because the country was in a serious economic crisis.

“You’ve to remember that Umguza will not be giving us the land for free if the negotiations are a success. Funding has to be sourced in order to acquire more land for development,” said Moyo.

He revealed that in an effort to get more people to acquire housing stands, the local authourity would reduce the size of residential stands.

“The reality is that we are surrounded by Umguza.  For the expansion of the city, we need to engage with Umguza Rural District Council so that we have land to develop for housing and industrial development,” added the mayor.

Bulawayo City Council and Umguza Rural District Council have previously clashed over land, with both councils accusing each other of developing land in the other’s territory.