Published: 24 November 2025

The long-promised development of residential stands at Judds Farm in Gwanda has stalled indefinitely, leaving hundreds of home seekers who paid between US$3 000 and US$11 000 as far back as 2015 in despair.

The project, led by Harare-based developer Forit Contracting (Pvt) Limited, has failed to take off, with all work halted pending the renewal of a disputed contract with the Gwanda Town Council. The ongoing deadlock was the focus of a crisis meeting held on November 7 between Forit director Itai Madziyire and applicants at the council boardroom.

According to minutes of the meeting, Madziyire revealed that the council had previously resolved to terminate its agreement with Forit and find a new contractor, a move he said was being reversed because his company had not been consulted. He assured applicants that the council was now working to renew the contract by the end of 2025.

"Madziyire indicated that this was the main issue discussed as they cannot commence work at Judds Farm unless they renew their contract with council," the minutes read. "He further assured the beneficiaries that the council promised to work flat out in making sure that the contract is renewed."

Frustrated applicants, who have endured similar assurances over the years, questioned what would be different this time. Madziyire reportedly stated that a renewed contract would guarantee he would honour his promises, and that once all obstacles were cleared, the servicing of the stands would take only four months.

Applicants raised objections to a new demand for full payment before receiving title deeds, citing their original "agreement of sale" that allowed construction after an initial payment. A proposed solution was a joint bank account between the council and Forit for future payments, contingent on contract renewal.

In a significant disclosure, Madziyire acknowledged that some stands overlap with existing mining claims, assuring that affected individuals would be compensated with alternative plots. He also promised to improve communication with applicants and provided updated contact details for his team.

Residents expressed frustration over nearly a decade of waiting for serviced stands where they could build homes, with no visible progress since 2015 despite legal agreements and stamped paperwork.

The meeting concluded with applicants agreeing to meet directly with Gwanda Town Council leadership to seek clarity on the contract renewal process and to submit formal letters to the housing director, mayor, and town clerk.

For now, the Judds Farm development remains at a standstill, serving as a stark reminder of a broken promise that has left a community in limbo for almost ten years.
- Southern Eye

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