Suburban
THE City of Harare on Wednesday this week met with businesspeople and bar owners at Sunridge Shopping Centre where the municipality made it clear that it will be addressing all the complaints raised by residents against the bar owners through enforcement of by-laws.
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
In a statement after the meeting, Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore said he was frank with the business people and bar owners at the meeting held at Mabelreign District Office.
“Without any further delay or excuses, all complaints raised by Sunridge residents will be addressed through the implementation of council by-laws,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by police officers from Mabelreign Police Station and the acting district officer Mrs Jane Gambiza.
The City of Harare says it will not renew the operating permits of the bars located at Sunridge shops and Sherwood Golf Course in Mabelreign which are being blamed for moral decadence and noise pollution in the two suburbs.
In addition to the council business operating permit, liquor outlets also need a licence from the Liquor Licensing Board.
Patrons frequenting the bars at Sunridge Shopping Centre and Sherwood Golf Course have become a menace to residents. According to residents, the patrons practice public drinking at the shops and harass women and girls visiting the place for shopping.
The patrons are also accused of inconveniencing residents by parking their cars in front of residents’ houses blocking them from accessing or leaving their properties. They also relieve themselves on the security walls of people’s properties and are blamed for immoral behaviour such as prostitution while some of them are into criminal activities raising security concerns.
Speaking at a meeting with Sunridge residents called to discuss the noise pollution and other inconveniences brought about by the bars and their clients, acting district officer for Mabelreign and Marlborough, Mrs Gambiza told residents council was in the process of taking action against the bars and bottle stores at Sunridge shops and Sherwood Golf Course.
On Saturday, food vendors based at Sunridge Shopping Centre were arrested for operating without licences.
Municipal police arrested the vendors who specialise in preparing sadza and “gango” a mixture of various stir fried meats with vegetables, which is popular with beer drinkers.
Cllr Ngadziore told Suburban that the vendors are part of the bottle stores and bars operating at the shopping centre.
“It’s an issue of compliance.
“Only their wares were taken as the gango operators fled.
“They are supposed to pay a fine,” he said.
Cllr Ngadziore said the food vendors’ wares were taken to Harare Traffic Central Stores in the central business district.
