A fresh contract between Gwanda Town Council and land developer Forit Contracting (Pvt) Ltd has raised hopes among Judds Farm home seekers, but beneficiaries remain anxious after years of delays, with questions over servicing deadlines, past payments and the status of some stands still unresolved.
The beneficiaries, who bought residential stands at Judds Farm from around 2015, have spent years waiting for roads, sewer and water infrastructure before they can build their homes.
While beneficiaries are currently celebrating the signing of the new servicing agreement, subsequent updates indicate they are still waiting for Forit to move onto the ground and begin work.
They initially indicated that the town clerk’s signature was outstanding after she had left before signing, but later confirmed that she signed the following day.
The latest position communicated to beneficiaries was that Forit had been given time to mobilise and that the project would be implemented in phases.
They were told Forit would be given three months to service the site, while another update said the company had two weeks to mobilise.
Gwanda mayor Thulani Moyo confirmed on Monday that the contract was signed last week.
“The contract was signed last week and the contractor is to mobilise equipment in two weeks to a month,” Moyo said.
- Gwanda’s anxious home seekers demand delivery
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The Judds project involves about 2 193 stands, according to information recently communicated to beneficiaries, although earlier petitions referred to more than 300 people who had purchased stands.
At a November 7, 2025 meeting, Forit director Itai Madziyire told beneficiaries the company could not commence work until its contract with council was renewed.
He said council had previously resolved to terminate Forit’s involvement and find another service provider, but an agreement was later reached to reverse that decision.
Beneficiaries questioned what would guarantee delivery after years of disappointments and unfulfilled promises.
Madziyire said renewal would allow him to honour his commitments.
The breakthrough followed a December 2025 council meeting at which councillors reportedly agreed Forit could renew its contract and resume servicing under close monitoring.
Council’s engineering department sought a six-month servicing period, while Forit proposed completing more than 300 stands in four months before servicing the remaining 1 700-plus within 12 months.
But for beneficiaries, the central issue remains delivery.
A March 2026 account described the project as a pipe dream despite stands having been sold for between US$3 000 and US$11 000, depending on density.
The November 2025 minutes recorded that Forit was not allowed to collect money from beneficiaries until the new contract was signed.
Madziyire said a joint account between Forit and council would be established for beneficiaries to deposit outstanding amounts.
Some beneficiaries are questioning how payments made in local currency will be treated.
They say they were previously told such payments could be adjusted to reflect the current value of their stands, and are resisting any arrangement requiring top-up fees.
Residents have also raised concerns about alleged mining claims overlapping with residential stands.
Madziyire said affected beneficiaries would be given alternative stands as compensation, and that the council would work with police and the Ministry of Mines to address anomalies.
Beneficiaries are demanding the contract translate into visible development rather than another round of meetings and promises.
They asked Forit to prioritise sewer infrastructure before roads, and complained about poor communication from the developer.
After years of waiting, they want Forit to mobilise equipment, begin servicing the land within the agreed timeframe and provide clarity on the treatment of payments already made.
