Suburban
Two weeks ago we published two stories about new developments that were taking place in Avondale West in Ward 7 and in Vainona in Ward 17.
In both cases, residents expressed concern over the fact that the new buildings were being built without following laid down building by-laws.
The building in Avondale West was an illegal extension to a newly built block of flats at the corner of Ascot Road and Huntly Road.
The extension was encroaching onto boundaries. This raised the ire of residents who under Ward 7 Ratepayers and Residents Association (W7RRA) demanded explanations from the city authorities.
Residents expressed their displeasure at the wanton disregard of council by-laws by property developers.
Contractors on site maintained that the extension was an approved structure but after being confronted by City of Harare’s Development Control Unit officers, the developers admitted the extension was not approved and therefore an illegal structure.
The developer started demolishing the structure on Wednesday this week. Investigations by the municipality’s Development Control Unit established that while the newly built block of flats was an approved development, the extension, which residents believed to be a double-storey guard room of some sort, was illegal.
We commend W7RRA for steadfastly demanding a probe into the extension. W7RRA lamented the fact that the glaring failure by the City of Harare to enforce by-laws was a motivation for developers and property owners to do as they please and flagrantly flout building regulations.
In the same vein, we applaud council’s acting development control officer Mr James Mazvimba and his team for doing their job.
We should not be extending plaudits to public officers for doing what they are paid for.
But given the breakdown in the enforcement of council by-laws in recent years, we thought we should recognise that at least they did the right thing though only after persistent pressure from residents of Ward 7.
The double storey shopping complex at the corner of Teviotdale and Granta close to Alpes Road in Vainona is also worrying residents of Ward 17.
The complex is said to be too close to the road and residents argue the builders overlapped the building lines and boundaries.
Considerable work has been done on the building and we await to see how the city authorities will tackle the issue.
In Ward 18 in Borrowdale, the Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) has pleaded with city authorities and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to enforce the law given the chaos being witnessed in the area.
BRRA chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira this week told Suburban that reckless driving along Liberation Legacy Way (formerly Borrowdale Road) was worrying with elderly drivers in particular traumatised to drive along the road.
Wayward drivers are said to be wilfully breaking road regulations and putting the lives of other road users at risk while littering is also said to be a major problem in the ward. BRRA’s pleas are valid and need the due attention they deserve.
