Suburban
THE wanton flouting of City of Harare by-laws continues unchecked as functions and parties are being held right in the middle of residential areas disturbing the peace of neighbours and inconveniencing motorists who have to struggle to access or leave their properties.
Suburban Reporter
One such event was held in Borrowdale on Sunday November 7 along Crowhill Road where party goers attending a party along the road parked their cars forming a 2 kilometre line in the process blocking residents of the area from accessing or leaving their properties.
Residents say more than 1 500 people congregated at a property along Crowhill Road much to the inconvenience of neighbours who had to deal with congestion on the road as well as endure noise pollution from the music played.
The party goers were also relieving themselves on the security walls of neighbouring properties with some of them even having the temerity to knock asking to use the bathrooms.
Littering was also a huge problem at the function as the party goers threw their litter all over along Crowhill Road unconcerned about the mess they were leaving.
On Monday residents woke up complaining bitterly about having to fill between four and six bags each of litter.
According to a flyer advertising the event, the function was dubbed “Cookout Harare” and scheduled for Borrowdale Country Manor where party goers were invited to bring their own drinks in cooler boxes and charged US$5 entrance fee.
Organisers of the event could not be reached for comment on the contact numbers provided on the flyer.
In a related matter, the conflict between Greendale residents and events venue Zimbali Gardens keeps raging with no solution in sight as the residents say the venue continues to host noisy functions disturbing their peace and rest during weekends.
With the relaxation of the Covid-19 national lockdown, gatherings of a stipulated number are now allowed and events venues such as Zimbali Gardens, which were out of business during the lockdown, are now back in business full time.
But the resumption of functions hosted at events venues in residential areas comes with its own problems because residents complain they have to endure noise pollution at a time when they supposed to be enjoying their rest in the comfort of their homes.
Recently, a resident complained that they had returned from work on a Saturday afternoon hoping for some peace and quiet only to be welcomed by dreadful noise from Zimbali Gardens.
In September, the issue of noise pollution also came up for discussion when some residents called on fellow residents to support their Ward 9 Councillor Stewart Mutizwa following his re-appointment as acting Harare Mayor.
Residents suggested Councillor Mutizwa needed to change things at Town House but could only do so with the support of people in his own ward some of whom possessed skills, which could help the struggling City of Harare.
But other residents felt otherwise expressing their doubt whether Councillor Mutizwa would succeed in leading Harare when he was coming short in his own ward.
They said Councillor Mutizwa had let his own ward down on issues of the environment, wetlands, garbage collection and noise pollution. In yet another discussion on power problems in Greendale, the problem of noise pollution from Zimbali Gardens also came under focus.
Some residents wished the Covid-19 lockdown regulations could be tightened again to prevent functions venues from hosting noisy events.
The residents said it was peaceful during lockdowns but once the regulations have been relaxed they have to put up with unbearable noise from Zimbali Gardens. They hoped council officials based at the Greendale district office would attend to the issue of noise pollution from function venues.
But other residents pointed out that given the frequent load shedding, the functions venue should be quite because there was no electricity.
However, property owners living near Zimbali Gardens said the functions venue had a back-up plan in the event of load shedding or power failure to run all the noisy equipment. Early this year, Greendale residents complained of noise coming from Zimbali Gardens on Cecil Road saying the events venue was hosting a function in violation of Covid-19 lockdown and curfew regulations.
Even residents living as far as Letombo Park were also enduring the noise from Cecil Road.
In 2016, a total of 60 Greendale residents signed a petition against the activities of the events venue, which is said to have gone as far as the High Court, but no action was taken.
“The noise is so intense that even by closing your doors and windows, it does not help.
“We cannot hear our own television sound0.
“The noise is disturbing residents along Greendale Avenue, down Cecil Road, all the way up to Coronation Avenue and across to Metcalf Road.
“None of the residents on the petition signed and attached were approached on the nature of the business before it was built,” read the 2016 petition.
In the petition, the affected residents argued that the activities at the events venue were devaluing their properties.
“Security is also breached with the amount of people attending (functions at the venue).
“The already bad roads are now getting worse with this extra traffic for functions and water bowsers,” read the petition.
Residents also expressed concern over why the venue is still operating as the City of Harare said it would stop wedding venues from operating in residential areas.
However, in 2019 a spokesperson for Zimbali Gardens told Suburban that their wedding venue was legal as it has got all its operating papers. The spokesperson’s comment followed complaints of noise pollution by Greendale residents.
Zimbali Gardens also challenged a council enforcement order against noise pollution in the High Court and won the case.
Councillor Mutizwa has previously said enforcement of noise pollution was being done by the police who should act upon those operating illegal venues in Greendale.
“Zimbali Gardens challenged council enforcement order in the High Court and won the case. I think what is left now is engagement with those breaking the law,” he said.
