Top council officials implicated in wetland grab

Suburban Reporter

Top Harare City Council (HCC) officials have been implicated in a shoddy land deal where they illegally converted Borrowdale wetlands into private residential stands.

Speaking before the Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the City of Harare on Wednesday this week, Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira said the piece of land has been divided among top council officials.

“Further investigations by some residents who have mandated me to be here revealed that this piece of land has since been subdivided into those smaller sections and they belong or there are alleged to belong to some senior city of Harare staff,” he said.

“We include the town clerk, Mr Hosiah Chisango, the director of works, Engineer Chawatama and the city planner, Simon Nyabezi,  the district officer, Ms Leah Kativu is also said to have a stand there.  She is said to have a stand there and other officials whose names we have not been advised as of yet.”

Despite the land being a wetland, Mr Mutyasira said development on the land has been ongoing.

“It is a surprise to residents, the land in question is a prime wetland and residents have been barring developments on the land.

“In January 2018, residents in Ward 18 submitted a petition to Parliament of Zimbabwe against any development on that land,” he said.

“And just recently, we also submitted a petition to the city of Harare on the 24th of June 2024.”

Furthermore, Mr Mutyasira said one of the major issues that have been experienced by residents in terms of dealing with the city of Harare is the unresponsiveness of the city fathers despite repeated efforts to engage them.

Mr Mutyasira said the city council hardly involves residents in any developmental activities.

“Council barely involves us in ongoing projects within our area, if they do, it is under very discreet methods, which residents may not be in a position to have exposure to or to understand,” he said.

“Since these are wetlands, any development begins to worry residents, they begin to inquire if such developments are intra-vires the local authority’s site plans or by-laws.

“And we always expect as a local authority that they should at least consult the residents, allow the residents to participate in all the decision-making processes towards awarding permits or allowing any kind of development in a residential area.”