Suburban
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
RESIDENTS of Ward 16 are expected to meet the City of Harare’s Environmental Management Committee next week over a petition they submitted calling for the closure of bars at Sunridge Shopping Centre next week.
The residents want the bars and liquor stores closed because of the noise pollution they are causing in the area and their patrons’ immoral behaviour.
Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore told residents at a meeting held on Sunday at Hallingbury Primary School that they will have an opportunity to defend their petition at next week’s meeting with the Environmental Management Committee.
“Next week I am supposed to appear before an Environmental Management Committee to defend your petition.
“I also want to invite two or three members from this community so that you can also air your views defending your petition,” he said.
Cllr Ngadziore said all procedures must be followed so that the move to close the bars will not be overturned should the bar owners seek legal recourse.
“While we are following this process, cancelling or stopping an existing lease because there is a complaint by residents is subject to debate. The idea is to follow every process so that whatever happens, people will not come and challenge the petition to council. But soon after the EMC committee, I want to assure you that the matter will go to full council which has the mandate. And this matter will be finalised on the last Thursday of this month at a full council meeting,” he said.
Cllr Ngadziore said the Sunday meeting was a follow up to several meetings held following residents’ concerns over activities at Sunridge Shopping Centre.
“As a councillor, after having a meeting with the DO, we said what is the easiest way of stopping all these illegal activities.
“Can we go the route of cancelling permits or we can wait for the expiry of the current permits?
“So what we have agreed is to wait for the expiry of the permits,” said Cllr Ngadziore.
He said the permits are different.
“Normally, council issues you licences in December/January but when someone applies for a liquor licence maybe in August, it’s supposed to expire in August the following year so it differs with your licence or permit.
“Again City for Harare issues about two or three certificates or licences; the actual licence, the health licence and other licenses.
“Sometimes there are two or three but for those handling food, a health licence is a requirement,” said Cllr Ngadziore.
He said the residents’ petition was copied to the district officer for Mabelreign and Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume.
“That petition as required by law was presented before a full council in December (last year).
“After the mayor read out the petition, councillors are supposed to debate it just for noting but the matter is supposed to be referred to a particular committee that deals with permits, that is the Environmental Management Committee.
“Because we were in December, I said it is good procedurally to refer the matter to the Environmental Management Committee (and) what can we do as a city maybe is to increase enforcement so that we minimise these illegal activities during the festive season.
“The director of works promised to work on that.”
He said a meeting was later held with the (Zimbabwe Republic Police) Officer in Charge Mabelreign.
“Here and there in December, we experienced some raids at Sunridge and it was through that resolution because it was now a council resolution but the final decision was supposed to be debated thoroughly by the committee responsible and then it brings its recommendations to full council for adoption,” said Cllr Ngadziore.
He said where there is a matter before a particular committee concerning his ward, he has a right to approach the chairperson so that he can also be invited to that meeting.
“So the chairperson of the committee is supposed to invite me to the EMC committee next week,” said Cllr Ngadziore.
