Kaupa: Land title issues delaying Durand project

By LUKE KAMA
HOUSING and Urbanisation Minister John Kaupa says the delay in getting the Durand Farm housing project moving forward is because of the fraudulent acquisition of land and illegal transfer of land titles.
Kaupa announced yesterday that the Department of National Planning has released K200,000 to complete the survey work before new construction begins.
“The project has been frustratingly and painstakingly delayed for various reasons. We have tried to take some corrective measures,” he said.
Kaupa said the ministry and the National Housing Corporation had been able to address some of the issues in collaboration with the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Justin Tkatchenko and his department.
A comprehensive report on the Duran Farm housing project has already been compiled.
The proper survey and design of roads, water supply, sewerage system, electricity and telecommunication services, and the blocks needs to be completed before home construction can commence.
“The way forward now is to (not) waste time and get to the real and physical work to build the first lot of houses with all the required services brought onto the site,” Kaupa said.
“I am extremely confident the construction will commence by September.”
The housing project will have 2515 allotments for residential and commercial use. Meanwhile, the homes built earlier have been declared not fit for occupation.
David Johnson, the director for Karama Developments Limited which specialises in residential
and commercial property development, said the homes were “sub-standard”.
“There are issues concerning building structures, quality and types of building material used and the way they are constructed. Some of the buildings, though two to three years old, are already shaky,” he said.
“The cement floor have cracks. The roofing iron is rusting.”