Residents locked in dispute with developers over Cleveland building  

21 Sep, 2021 - 10:09 0 Views
Residents locked in dispute with developers over Cleveland building   Wetlands map of Harare.

Suburban

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

THE Combined Harare Residents Association and the Water Community Alliance have expressed concern over building taking place on a wetland on the Cleveland Dam catchment but the developers argue the site is not a wetland.

The two organisations said construction was continuing on the site even after the developers had been issued with an Environmental Protection Order by the Environmental Management Agency. They expressed grave concern over the development saying construction will adversely affect water delivery and disaster preparedness plans against flooding as the 2021-2022 rain season approaches.

“We the organisations here present, united as a coalition working towards wetlands preservation in the Harare Metropolitan Province, (are) outraged by the disregard of the newly gazetted Harare Wetlands Map, maintaining that the destruction of wetlands through construction of buildings in Harare Metropolitan Province remains one of the contributor to the water challenges bedevilling Harare and flooding of homes that rocked Harare in past years,” the organisations said in a statement.

The organisations said houses and a vocational centre were being built on the land but former Harare East Member of Parliament and Deputy Finance Minister Terrence Mukupe and Nakiso Consortium Private Limited say they are building a football training centre near Donnybrook Racecourse which is within the Cleveland catchment area.

The area where the football pitch (circled) is being built under the same conditions of Donnybrook race course, according to Cde Mukupe.

Cde Mukupe also denied the assertions by the organisations saying the piece of land in question is not a wetland.

In an interview with Suburban, Cde Mukupe threatened to take legal action against those tarnishing his image as they never approached him to get his side of the story.

He said he is building a soccer training centre and he sees nothing wrong with that as his neighbours such as the Zimbabwe National Army have a shooting range nearby.

The plan seen by Suburban shows the football pitch, ablution facilities and parking area.

The site plan of the football pitch being constructed by Cde Mukupe near Donnybrook race course.

Cde Mukupe said he is building the football pitch under the same conditions as Donnybrook Racecourse.

CHRA programmes manager, Mr Reuben Akili told Suburban that Cde Mukupe applied for that piece of land from the City of Harare.

“From our view, a grader has cleared roads on the wetland,” he said.

He said an Environmental Protection Order was issued by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) on the piece of land on September 10.

“We are worried that the property developer on Cleveland wetland (Nakiso Consortium Pvt Ltd) was issued an Environmental Protection Order by EMA but still continue to disregard the order and are worried that the events at Cleveland Catchment area reflect the current wave of destruction of wetlands at national level and by the gap that exists between policy and practice on protection of water sources and ecologically sensitive areas in our country,” reads the statement by the organisations.

The organisations said they were disappointed by the lack of action by the responsible authority, the City of Harare, despite engaging the municipality on the protection of wetlands.

“What is more worrying is we are heading towards the rain season and weather forecasts show that Harare is likely to get above normal rainfall, the same prediction that happened the last rain season and we got serious flooding affecting houses constructed on wetlands.

“The agenda of wetlands preservation remains urgent and we implore Government to urgently ensure that the Harare Wetlands Map guides spatial planning within Harare.

“Government and local authorities must not allow any further land grabs or invasions on any wetland and safeguard the abuse of regularization provisions in the Regional Town Planning Act by politically connected land barons.

“Political parties should come up with comprehensive and robust climate change policies that will include wetlands protection in their election manifestos ahead of the 2023 elections,” the organisations said.

They indicated that among other things, they will take legal action against current developments on the Cleveland catchment and other areas and raise awareness among residents on the importance of the preservation of wetlands and naming and shaming of offenders.

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