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Blessed Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
PANIC has gripped the Bulawayo Municipal Compound (BMC) community as the Bulawayo City Council’s road masterplan prepares to take shape in April, leaving 89 families facing relocation.
According to the masterplan, a major road linking Khami Road and Amakhosi is set to be constructed, necessitating the demolition of certain houses within the BMC area. The expanded road, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity, will pass directly through properties, rendering them uninhabitable.
What was once a distant threat has now become a pressing reality, instilling fear in the hearts of BMC residents who have called the compound home for years. As the City Council’s master plan moves forward, the community is bracing for the devastating impact of potential displacement.
In an interview with the Sunday News, Ward 4 councillor Thandiwe Moyo, said residents of BMC have appealed to the city council for alternative accommodation in a desperate bid to avoid eviction.
The plea comes in response to the council’s directive for residents to vacate their homes without providing any alternative housing options.
“In a letter to the council, the residents — backed by their Member of Parliament Cde Raj Modi — along with my own correspondence, have requested to be accommodated in the abandoned Vundu Flats, located adjacent to their current residences, at an affordable monthly rental,” she stated.
With the city already experiencing a severe housing shortage, the residents find themselves with limited options, making their plea to the council a last-ditch effort to avoid displacement.
The Vundu Flats, once a thriving bachelor’s quarters, have stood vacant for four years, a testament to neglect and disrepair.
“The root cause of their abandonment lies in the persistent sewer blockages and significant ablution issues that have rendered these facilities uninhabitable,” said Clr Moyo.
Despite initial plans to renovate and improve the flats, the council’s efforts have seemingly stalled, leaving the structures to deteriorate further.
As the April deadline approaches, anxiety among residents is palpable with families scrambling to find alternative accommodations. The residents who have endured years of uncertainty, now face the daunting prospect of being uprooted from their homes, leaving behind cherished memories and a sense of community.
As they plead for accommodation, attention is once again focused on the Vundu Flats, underscoring the urgent need for renovation and rehabilitation to restore them to a habitable state.
Clr Moyo said the local Member of Parliament, Cde Raj Modi has pledged to address the longstanding sewer issues affecting the Vundu Flats, but only if the council grants approval following a thorough inspection.
“This commitment from the MP has become a beacon of hope for desperate BMC residents facing homelessness due to the City Council’s road masterplan, as many cannot afford the rising costs of accommodation citywide,” she stated.
“Following a series of meetings involving myself, city council officials and BMC residents, MP Modi has committed to intervene in the sewer issues, potentially paving the way for the Vundu Flats to be repurposed as alternative housing for those in need,” Clr Moyo said.
Clr Moyo noted that the city council has proposed an innovative plan to provide a lasting solution to the accommodation for the BMC community.
“During meetings with the affected residents, city council officials revealed they could offer residential stands in Luveve South, allowing BMC residents to purchase their own homes through manageable instalment payments,” she explained.
Under this arrangement, residents would have the opportunity to pay for their stands in affordable monthly instalments, as agreed upon with the city council.
“This proposal promises to empower BMC residents, enabling them to achieve home-ownership and break free from reliance on council-owned properties,” Clr Moyo revealed.
