Homeground noise pollution nuisance resurfaces with gusto

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

THE noise pollution nuisance has resurfaced at Homeground Shopping Centre in Sunridge, with residents saying the problem is worsening daily as perpetrators seem unmoved and are increasingly becoming belligerent.

Sunridge residents have over the years been at the receiving end of the noise pollution nuisance, social fabric decay and the unruly conduct of public beer drinkers who frequent the liquor outlets at Homeground Shopping Centre.

According to the residents, some of the liquor outlets are operating without licenses and are even brazen about it. Residents say the noise pollution nuisance is deepening despite the closure of two bars at the shopping centre last year.

They said the noise and immoral behaviour of public drinkers has become unbearable.

“On Friday, by 3pm in the afternoon, the shopping centre is full with cars and music playing of car radios and the beer outlets and all that.

“It’s really very bad and there is drug peddling and prostitution taking place at the shopping centre. You can see the women dancing outside the cars, the music so loud, it’s gotten even worse,” said a resident.

Another resident said there is there’s a barber shop that has been set up on Parndon Road and Warbury Road.

“Barbers are very unhealthy and there’s no clean water to wash the razors. And from there, he (the barber shop operator) started selling vegetables and also started a car tyre mending business from the same place.

“It’s very difficult even to turn right because of this vending that’s going on,” said the resident.

Some Sunridge residents said they visited Mabelreign District Office where they approached the district officer over the matter and were told to see the area development officer.

“She’s never in the office, she said she needs transport to give them (liquor outlets) a warning,” she said.

Contacted for comment, City of Harare spokesperson Mr Stanley Gama said the shops and liquor stores at Homeground have operating licenses and promised to check on the concerns raised by Sunridge residents.

“They were checked by the city to see if even the workers have toilets. The municipal police will check on the issue of noise,” he said.

Early this year, the Liquor Licensing Board announced that the renewal of licences for liquor stores will not be automatic in the licensing period 2024 to 2025 following appeals nationwide to bring sanity in the distribution, trends and patterns in the liquor industry.

In a notice, the board advised stakeholders in the industry that as result of the need to ensure sanity in the sector, the renewal of bottle store licences will not be automatic.

“The Secretariat wishes to inform you that all bottle liquor shops will not enjoy an automatic approval for their applications. The acceptance of the bottle (store) liquor license application shall be subject to the arbitrate by the Liquor Licensing Board countrywide and will advise accordingly,” reads the notice.

It said the following reasons set the tone for non-acceptance of bottle liquor licences applications:

• Proximity to the bus terminus
• Those in the CBD zone as determined by the Board
• Those situated at fuel service stations
• Location to heritage sites
• Nuisance creation
• Sub-standard structures
• Appalling hygiene standards
• More than three or more fine tickets paid to Zimbabwe Republic Police for various offences within one calendar year
• Attracted public complaints
• Pose as potential threat for any hibernation
• Illegal alteration of structures

“Please be advised. In case you are processing or have already done the renewal process, this does not exonerate you from the foregoing issues,” reads the notice.

Residents of Harare have expressed satisfaction with regulations recently introduced for the licensing of nightclubs.

The guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, require all club buildings to be fully soundproofed, ensuring that their activities do not disturb the tranquility of residential areas.

In the wake of continuous noise pollution caused by nightclubs, event venues and house parties, residents praised the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for taking action.

However, it appears enforcement of the regulations is lacking.