Kariba land deal sparks anger
Kariba Town Council has come under fire from residents after it proposed to sell a piece of land along the shores of Lake Kariba measuring 30 000 square metres at US$3,30 per square metre.
Indications are that the land would be turned into a nature reserve for small animals.
At that rate, the three-hectare piece of land is selling for around US$100 000, which residents feel is too little for such prime land.
Residents have questioned why the price of the land was way lower than that being charged for residential and other commercial stands in the town which are averaging around US$10 per square metre.
“It is very expensive to get land for residential purposes in Kariba, but to our surprise, such prime land is being sold for far less than what is expected for residents to put a roof over their heads,” said a resident who preferred anonymity.
“Why is the land so cheap in a prime serviced area compared to areas such as Kasese where land was pegged at around $10/sqm on unserviced land and Baobab Ridge where they were charging $30 per square metre.”
Land on the shoreline, overlooking the vast Lake Kariba is regarded as prime and should be relatively expensive.
The residents raised their objections after Kariba Municipality issued a notice inviting views of the proposed sale of land following Council Resolutions C/83/20 and C/99/20.
“Notice is hereby given that Municipality of Kariba has in terms of Section 152 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), resolved through a resolution C/83/20 and C/99/20 to sell a portion of land abutting stand 782 Mica Point, Kariba Township measuring approximately 3 hectares to Crowned Eagle Company (Pvt) Ltd for the sum of US$3,30 per square metre,” read part of the notice.
Kariba Municipality housing and community services director Mr Godfrey Magijani said land use determined the cost of land.
“The land is for wildlife and not construction,” he said. “It’s on a steep slope which is not suitable for any construction, the buyer wants to keep small animals as part of his stand at Kariba Safari Lodge.
“Valuations were done by the Ministry of Local Government valuations department. It is the land use that determined the valuation.”
If the land was for construction purposes, said Mr Magijani, the price would be higher.
Kariba mayor Councillor George Masendu said the land was behind another stand and it would be virtually impossible for another entity or individual to buy it and use it without passing through the adjacent stand.
“There is no access road to the stand in question as anyone who needs to access the land passes through an existing stand,” he said. “That is the reason why it costs less to get the stand. It would even be difficult to get another buyer for the stand.”-herald.cl.zw
