Gwanda residents demand action
by NQOBANI MATHIBELA
GWANDA — THE long-delayed development of residential stands at Judds Farm in Gwanda has entered its tenth year without progress, leaving hundreds of hopeful homeowners increasingly frustrated after paying between US$3 000 and US$11 000 as far back as 2015.
The project, awarded to Harare-based developer Forit Contracting (Pvt) Ltd, has been stalled for years due to a contractual dispute between the company and the Gwanda Town Council.
According to details revealed during a crisis meeting held on 7 November at the council boardroom, work cannot resume until Forit’s contract—previously terminated by council—is formally renewed.
Minutes from the meeting show that Forit director Itai Madziyire claimed council had begun reversing its earlier decision to cancel the contract because his company had not been consulted.
He told beneficiaries that the council was now working toward renewing the agreement by the end of 2025, insisting that no development can take place until that process is complete.
Forit also cited additional delays stemming from overlapping mining claims on parts of the land, a complication that will require relocating and compensating affected beneficiaries.
Residents say these issues should have been identified years earlier and accuse both the council and the developer of gross negligence.
Home seekers at the meeting expressed deep anger and fatigue, noting that they have heard “the same promises for years” while no machinery has moved on site.
Some said the prolonged silence from the developer had created anxiety, especially given the significant amounts already paid.
Residents also rejected a proposal requiring full payment before issuance of title deeds, arguing that their original agreements allowed construction after making initial deposits.
The meeting resolved that beneficiaries would now approach the Gwanda Town Council leadership directly for clarity on the renewal process, signalling growing public pressure.
For now, Judds Farm remains untouched ground—an unfulfilled promise that has left an entire community stuck in uncertainty almost a decade later.
