Mansion owner accused of blocking drainage

SOME residents in the low lying part of New Bluff Hill have expressed unhappiness over the construction of a mansion in their neighbourhood which they claim is interfering with the area’s drainage system.

The mansion, situated on stand number 3089, is said to have been constructed on top of the system which drains water from the hilly upper section of the suburb to the wetland and stream on the edge of the settlement which is across Madokero suburb.

Residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said they had tried to engage the City of Harare officials and the owner of the house over the issue, but to no avail.

“The house has been built on top of the drainage system and this is affecting the movement of water from higher ground into the wetland, where it is supposed to flow into the stream.

“We have tried to engage council officials at the Mabelreign district council office who are led by Mrs Gora, but we have not had a positive response and they have been evasive.

“Construction of the house is almost complete and we hear council was not inspecting every stage of its construction as required by city by-laws otherwise they would have noticed the anomaly and stopped its construction,” said one resident.

Council officials at Mabelreign district offices declined to comment on the matter referring questions to their superiors at Rowan Martin Building.

A Mrs Mutero from the city’s Evaluations Department also declined to comment on the matter referring questions to the public relations department which said it was not aware of the issue.

The owner of the house, Ms Sesedzayi Manyoka said all her paper work was in order and referred all questions to the city council.

“I do not know what you are talking about. If you need to know anything about this property, you can approach the city council.

“I got this stand from council through a very transparent process. All the stage forms are complete and intact and anyone who has any queries must visit council for verification,” she said.

Further attempts to get a comment from council over a period of over three weeks, yielded no results with fellow residents insisting that everything was not above board.