HARARE residents say cluster houses can only be developed if a corresponding expansion of services and infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads and electricity is undertaken to prevent further strain on the city’s already collapsed services.
Suburban Reporters
AT A consultative meeting held at Town House on Tuesday, residents voiced their concerns over the potential impact of new housing developments on existing infrastructure.
One of the residents Mr Jimmy Mahachi articulated residents’ fears over the mushrooming of cluster houses in the city.
“The development of cluster houses, if not closely monitored, may lead to the destruction of wetlands and disturb the water table and sources,” he said.
Mr Mahachi said the city is already struggling to provide basic services to current residents, questioning:
“How can I be convinced that as a resident, I am going to get water when we have areas that have gone for more than three decades without tap water?”
A large section of the residents at the meeting shared Mr Mahachi’s sentiments with some saying they are not entirely opposed to the development of cluster houses but are wary of environmental degradation and inadequate infrastructure.
Harare Wetlands Trust programmes manager Mr Selestino Chari said that the process of consultation must be given enough time.
“We are not enemies of development but the process of consultation needs to be given enough time,” said Mr Chari.
Other residents criticised the current draft council policy on cluster housing questioning who was involved in its creation and whether residents were adequately consulted, as outlined in the Regional Town and Country Planning Act.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume acknowledged the residents’ concerns saying residents will be engaged throughout the policy formulation.
“We cannot say one thing on paper and do another on the ground. We must be clear residents will be engaged continuously throughout our planning” said Cllr Mafume.
He emphasised the need for a coherent cluster housing policy that aligns with the city’s infrastructure capacity calling for a stop to unapproved land allocations and urgent action on existing infrastructure issues. Ward 18 Councillor Rufaro Matsika reinforced the importance of community involvement in crafting the cluster housing policy.
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“We will continue with consultative meetings in all wards to discuss standards and conditions on densification,” said Cllr Matsika.
She highlighted the necessity of addressing the dilemma of overwhelmed infrastructure including sewer systems and waste management while adhering to existing housing by-laws.
Councillor Mafume said densification, which involves building cluster houses and apartments, is the best way to address housing shortages due to the rapid increase in population in Harare because the city has run out of land.
“The possibility of expanding Harare is no longer viable because all the land we could have bought for Harare has already been utilised by both informal and formal settlements.
‘’We are closed in and unfortunately, these settlements around Harare do not have clinics, schools, and shops, which are straining our facilities.”
Cllr Mafume said there should be a standard for all clusters.
“Clusters put pressure on refuse collection and service delivery so I was suggesting that for someone to get a permit for a certain number of clusters one must buy refuse collection equipment.
“If you are building 20 clusters, buy a skip bin and (refuse) truck to cover for the many people that you are bringing in.
Acting Director of Urban Planning, Samuel Nyabezi, said cluster houses are permitted with a minimum cluster size of 500 square metres on a sewer reticulation system or other means of waste disposal such as biodigester plants.
“There are over 150 applications towards cluster development from the period of 2010 to 2023 and we are hoping for a major increase of applications by year-end,” he said.
Some residents who were unable to attend the meeting criticised the limited consultation process, arguing that a single meeting in a small venue was insufficient in today’s digital age.
They suggested the use of online platforms and surveys to engage a broader audience, ensuring that all voices are heard in the formulation process.
