By Correspondent
In 2016 Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries Founder Prophet Magaya’s commissioned a site for housing projects in Douglasdale, Bulawayo.
The project, called Planet Africa Housing, had been initially launched in 2015.
It aimed for 5 000 medium to low density houses.
The houses would be constructed as part of a multi-million project spearheaded by the church.
Bulawayo was also a small part of a wider and ambitious scheme which would see the church construct houses in the entire Sadc region.
PHD aimed at constructing 48 000 houses in four cities- Bulawayo (5 000), Harare (20 000), Mutare (20 000) and Midlands (3 000).
Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga, representing then Vice President Mphoko, said the project would establish Bulawayo as the true city of kings.
All those who wanted to be part of the scheme were require to pay a minimum of US$4 000.
After getting the house one would then pay-off the rest of the required total.
Problems To The Vision
However, soon after commissioning the project ran into some headwinds.
Some workers, mainly builders, went on strike to push for their unpaid salaries.
Magaya responded by firing all the 90 workers who embarked on the strike at the Douglasdale housing site.
In retaliation the workers began mobilising all who had deposited their monies towards the project to get refunds.
Those on the waiting list and already agrieved by the waiting period began agitating for their money or stands.
In 2019, Ernest Mutasa, a pastor at Assemblies of God died due to alleged stress after allegedly investing US$14 000 into the scheme.
Mutasa’s daughter, Bethel Mutasa (36) said her father had sold their family home to buy three residential stands in Douglasdale.
When it became clear that he had been scammed, Mutasa suffered a stroke and died.
In 2019 Magaya allegedly offered RTGS$14 000 to pay back the US$14 000.
The Mutasa family refused the offer.
In 2018 another Bulawayo couple, Charles Chapindura and his wife filed a lawsuit against Magaya demanding reimbursement of US$4 100.
The lawsuit, filed under WCSCC 324/24, was settled out of court early this year.
The Vision Abides
However despite these problems plus the absence of any housing beneficiary, officials are adamant all is on track.
A Bulawayo-based official with Planet Africa Housing said funding has been the issue.
“The stands are there but we have been facing challenges with funding for the development of the land.
“We have over 1 000 stands that were being serviced but the servicing was not completed as we ran out of cash especially after the 1:1 dollarisation.
In 2023 the official said they had a waiting list of over 700 people while they have over 900 stands.
She said they actually had an excess of 200 stands.
While some have found respite through courts, those not monied-enough have found no joy.
Thembelani Ncube, a 61-year-old member of PHD, who sold her eight-roomed house in Nkulumane 5 in 2017 to invest in the scheme is one of them.
In 2023 she reported traversing through police and church offices for a positive response but to no avail.
“The police went to Umguza Rural District Council and they said they were told that there is no such housing scheme.
“They further referred the police to Mhlahlandlela.
“The police also told me that the company is in Harare,” she said.
However, she is still to find a solution to her ordeal like hudrends of others.
