Furore over Victoria Falls housing stands recall
Source: Furore over Victoria Falls housing stands recall – The Southern Eye
The Victoria Falls City Council has come under fire from residents after indicating that it will repossess housing stands from beneficiaries in the BE100 area who fail to pay for them in full by month end amid allegations of corruption.
The Victoria Falls Consortium, a residents association, alleged that the council has already identified new potential beneficiaries and is compelling them to pay a “facilitation fee” to increase their chances of acquiring the stands.
These claims were made in a recent communication sent by the Victoria Falls Consortium to residents in the resort city.
“The Victoria Falls Consortium is reliably informed that the mayor of Victoria Falls, Prince Thuso Moyo, and other senior council officers have embarked on an unprocedural repossession of stands from the BE100 beneficiaries,” the consortium alleged.
“Effectively, they are allegedly taking bribes from individuals who have never been on the waiting list or have been vetted by the vetting committee.
“The information on our desk indicates that the mayor and senior council officers have already engaged new potential beneficiaries, causing them to pay a facilitation fee to increase their chances of benefiting after the October 31, 2025 deadline.”
The consortium noted that while repossession of standswas a standard council procedure for those who fail to pay, it was inappropriate and unprocedural to execute this process ahead of the deadline.
“We strongly believe that the council cannot proceed with repossessions without the following: a publicised council resolution on how the process is to be applied; a process that meets all legal frameworks; and unbiased allocations to new beneficiaries,” the consortium said.
“There should be proof of waiting lists for all new beneficiaries to curb corrupt tendencies where individuals qualify because of bribes.
“The new beneficiaries should be vetted by the same vetting committee before they qualify.
“Thus far, we gather that none of the above tenets have been considered, which is a serious cause for concern.
“Residents should take note of the betrayal by their elected leaders and council management.”
The consortium added: “Furthermore, we advise all BE100 beneficiaries to go to the council immediately and inquire about the status of their stands to ascertain what records are in their files.
“This will avoid last-minute surprises regarding this potential corruption underway,” the communication advised.”
Victoria Falls mayor Moyo dismissed the claims as “mere bar talk” when contacted for comment.
He said, at a policy level, the council passed a resolution that stands of those who have not paid will be repossessed after October 31.
“What I know is that council passed a resolution to repossess the stands of those who would not have paid by October 31,” Moyo said.
“I also know that in the consortium, two of the leaders have stands and they have not paid in full, so this is an individual person’s issue, and residents must ignore them.”
Moyo said he was being name-dropped to soil his image.
“This is not a mayor’s thing, but a decision made by the council; the mayor does not take people’s stands,” he said.
“At a policy level, I can say stands will be taken after October 31, and I urge those who have not paid to pay so that they do not lose them.
“I also encourage the consortium leaders to lead by example by paying before the stands are taken from them.”
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