Council in U-turn over access road

HARARE City Council has been forced to reopen an access road in Belvedere that had been closed to pave way for a new development.

Council made the about-turn following mounting pressure from existing businesses in the area.

The access road, which links Samora Machel Avenue and Edmonds Avenue opposite the Harare Showgrounds, had been closed to accommodate a new owner.

The resultant outcry jolted the council to negotiate with the new owner and, on Wednesday, the fence blocking the road was repositioned by about 20 metres to free the access road.

Harare Residents’ Trust director Mr Precious Shumba attributed such acts to corruption and poor management at Town House.

“Some decision-makers at the council are turning out to be highly incompetent, corrupt and easily manipulated by officials who are evidently pocketing money to approve land developments,” he said.

Mr Shumba said due process was not followed when the developer was allocated the stand.

“In terms of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act and the Urban Councils Act, all land developments should be first advertised and residents notified of the planned developments.

“Once they receive the notification the neighbours can comment or raise their objections within 30 days from the date of advertising if they have any concerning the intended land development.

“If it is a new land development, an environmental impact assessment is conducted and the developer engages a consultant in liaison with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) wherein they seek the views of direct and indirect beneficiaries to the project, including those around the project area. None of these things were done,” he said.

He urged Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango to be more transparent and accountable on land sales and new land developments.

In a recent interview, Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba blamed surveyors who approved the allocation of the piece of land.

“The surveyor was supposed to identify the new developments and come up with a subdivision that does not encroach onto the existing road and that did not happen. It was serious incompetence on those that surveyed the place,” said Cllr Gomba.