Suburban
A growing number of residents in Harare are now putting manned boom gates to secure their neighbourhoods from criminals but the City of Harare has cautioned them that the security barriers are illegal if it has not approved them, which is the case for many.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
A growing number of residents in Harare are now putting manned boom gates to secure their neighbourhoods from criminals but the City of Harare has cautioned them that the security barriers are illegal if it has not approved them, which is the case for many.
Community leaders have stepped in and encouraged residents to push for the amendment of such by-laws.
Commenting on the recent communication from CoH on the security boom gates, Mt Pleasant legislator Mr Samuel Banda said council is getting it wrong.
He said if professionally minded boom gates could be the answer to stopping crime in the different suburbs in Harare.
Mr Banda said anyone seeking the removal of boom gates is behaving criminally and working against the protection of both life and property.
“Council is getting everything completely wrong. Their urge to destroy rather than build is absurd. Boom gates, if professionally minded, are the best way forward to stem crime which has been rising at a sharp rate recently as some people resort to dishonest means to survive in such a tough economic environment,” he said.
“Where I stay boom gates are being used to prevent and stop crime. Sometime last year, we were urging police to liaise with neighbourhood watch committees so that they can strategise together to combat crime and boom gates are a line of first and last defence against crime.
“Council must practice restraint over their actions which are becoming anti-people,” said Mr Banda.
Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers Association (ZICORRA) provincial chairperson for Harare Mr Lawrence Kuleya said it was wrong for council to take this kind of stance without engaging residents.
He argued it showed just how divorced from the situation on the ground in communities the municipality is as an institution.
“Council must realise that boom gates were never just put up in communities as a luxury or simply because residents enjoyed putting them up but it was for their survival against crime.
“Where homes were being invaded and robbed by criminals and in some cases, residents injured, raped or killed, boom gates limited these incidences greatly. So removing them will actually expose communities greatly to crime.
“What they must do as an institution is rather assist communities in putting up boom gates correctly in areas where these booms are obstructing traffic or causing other impediments,” he said.
“They must also teach communities that don’t know the procedures of setting up booms, how to go about it. For example, the right areas and right ways to go about it. Otherwise denying residents boom gates will worsen crime in communities,” said Mr Kuleya.
Community leader Mrs Kudzai Kadzombe said the sole purpose of the boom gates erected in different communities was maintaining a safe and secure environment.
“Boom gates are illegal according to our by-laws and the only way forward is for residents to push for amendment and alignment to the current Harare we stay in as most of these by-laws are archaic and do not recognise or fit into the current set-ups,” said Mrs Kadzombe, a former Ward 41 Councillor.
“Residents did not just put these boom gates willy-nilly but found it as means to reducing and in some areas ending crime in their communities.
“In most instances when thieves enter properties to rob if the Zimbabwe Republic Police are called they do not have transport to come to the rescue of the residents.
“I have had to go at times to pick up the police and take them to assist a fellow resident being invaded by robbers as early as 3am and I know many of you have also faced a similar problem.
“These boom gates would help our unarmed neighbourhood watch personnel to identify people coming into our streets after hours for the sake of our safety.
“My suggestion would be for residents to push law makers to expedite these amendments of the by-laws that act as a disservice to our immediate security concerns,” said Mrs Kadzombe.
Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) committee member Mrs Pat Townsend said boom gates have really helped in deterring criminal activities in different suburbs.
She, however, emphasised that every vehicle has right of passage and residents should get permission to erect these boom gates from council first.
“Boom gates have definitely helped deter crime in all areas. However, through passage is a right of every vehicle and therefore guards manning these gates need to know that.
“If after curfew, then of course no one should be driving around so then guards would be able to question the driver heading into a close because it is a no through road.
“Guards get to know the residents and it works well to stop unknown or suspicious vehicles going through,” she said.
“At some through roads, drums are put up one side of the road after 6.30pm and have guards there as a deterrent to would be criminals, so that they know there is security in the area.
“One has to apply and get permission to erect boom gates from City of Harare,” said Mrs Townsend.
In a statement, the CoH noted with concern the increase in illegal boom gates in the capital’s suburbs and urged all residents who erected these structures without council’s approval to remove them or face the full wrath of the law.
“Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 30 and 47 of the Roads Act (Chapter 13:18] that all boom gates erected in Harare without Harare City Council authorisation are prohibited.
“All residents that have constructed such boom gates are being instructed to immediately remove them. Failure to do so, council will remove them at the expense of the owners.
“City of Harare is witnessing a sharp increase in the erection of illegitimate boom gates particularly in the low-density areas.
“We wish to remind the public that all roads in Harare remain public roads unless specified otherwise. As such, no one shall close or cause to close such roads without express consent from the local authority.
“Council and other service providers are failing to deliver services due to some sections of the roads that are illegally closed off with boom gates.
“In some extreme cases, congestion is being caused by closure of some roads that result in traffic being channelled to the few remaining free roads.
“Anyone found guilty of the above offence will face the full wreath of applicable laws,” read the statement from the City of Harare.
