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Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter 

GOVERNMENT is planning to give title deeds to residents of Bulawayo’s Mabuthweni and Iminyela suburbs. 

Built more than 50 years ago, the two suburbs which still have communal toilets, are among the city’s oldest suburbs.

Mpopoma-Pelandaba legislator Charles Moyo recently asked in Parliament when residents of Mabuthweni and Iminyela will be issued title deeds.

The Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Yeukai Simbanegavi said there is an inter-ministerial committee that has been set up that includes the Minister of National Housing, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to look into the issue so that residents get title deeds.

“With regards to the issue of Mabuthweni and Iminyela, what I can add to what the leader of Government business has already indicated is, those suburbs are very old and as residents wait for the process that has been explained to them, they should go to council inspectors to ensure that their houses are inspected and are up to date because the issue of the standard will also be looked at once the issuance of title deeds begins,” said Deputy Minister Simbanegavi.

She said the owners are expected to undertake renovations to upgrade the units.

“As an old suburb, what they need to do now is to make sure the issues of water reticulation and other facilities are up to date so that when the inspections are done, their houses qualify for the issuance of title deeds,” said Deputy Minister Simbanegavi.

In response, Mr Moyo said residents will have challenges in upgrading their houses especially the toilets as they are using communal toilets.

He said Bulawayo City Council inspectors are saying they cannot issue title deeds if one does not have a toilet but there is no space to build a toilet.

Mr Moyo said some residents are pensioners and they do not have the money to construct the toilets.

Cde Yeukai Simbanegavi

Cde Simbanegavi said the residents will be given time to work on the upgrading of the houses. 

“I advise the Hon Member to discuss with residents of Iminyela and assure them that they will be given time to work on their houses. They will be given time to mobilise resources to renovate and upgrade their houses as we wait for the technical processes. I am hoping that by the time that the technical issues are addressed, residents would have upgraded their houses,” said Deputy Minister Simbanegavi.

She said residents could come together and pool resources to upgrade their houses. 

“In most of the old suburbs, most of the houses use common offsite infrastructure and there is no need for them to start digging for septic tanks and other infrastructure. What they can do is to make sure that community offsite infrastructure with regard to sewer or water reticulation is upgraded. They can even start residential associations where they can come together and pool resources to upgrade their houses. These are personal properties and it is up to each and every individual to ensure that their property is upgraded,” said Deputy Minister Simbanegavi.