NEGLECTED and underutilised open spaces in suburbs and at business centres in Ward 18 suburbs should be be made available to residents as a way of protecting them and beautifying the pieces of land.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
The Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association (BRRA) has called on the City of Harare to make these open spaces available to residents for beautification and protection through low impact and environmentally friendly activities such as recreation.
Ward 18 covers suburbs such as Borrowdale, Borrowdale Brooke, Greystone Park, Helensvale, Carrick Creagh, Crowhill, Philadelphia, Glen Lorne, Umwinsidale, Hogerty Hill and Quinnington among others.
Residents of the suburbs have singled out such spaces as the:
- Unsightly intersection of Liberation Legacy Way (formerly Borrowdale Road), Drew Road and Harare Drive
- The vast plot owned by Eaglesvale School
- The adjacent City of Harare water works site on Liberation Legacy Way
- Winchendon Shopping Centre and
- A former dumpsite on Drew Road.
Residents have voiced their disappointment at the lack of attention and maintenance given to these spaces.
However, the residents noted that over the past 24 months, there have been positive developments in some areas. A piece of land has been reclaimed and transformed into the beautifully landscaped, Box Park, a park at Helensvale Shopping Centre. The construction of a bus stop along Crowhill Road, facilitated and sponsored by the BRRA, has improved access into Helensvale Shopping Centre.
Additionally, another piece of land on Helvetia Road, with frontage on Liberation Legacy Way, has been converted into a world-class recreational and sporting facility by a local school.
These improvements have brought relief to residents who hoped for the continuation of such a positive momentum.
But there are still several open spaces that remain idle and attract unsanctioned activities and occupations by individuals who show no regard for the environment and are not recognised by the City of Harare’s Borrowdale District Office.
The unapproved activities imply that the local authority is not generating any revenue from these operations. Of particular concern is the City of Harare Water works site adjacent to the Helensvale Total Energies complex, which is at risk of vandalism and contamination from illegal traders operating motor vehicle repair garages and car washes.
This site houses the largest water pumping infrastructure for Borrowdale and the surrounding suburbs, making it crucial to protect the underground pipes and other strategic infrastructure from potential damage caused by heavy vehicles. Adjacent to the water works site is the Eaglesvale School plot, which has remained unused for several years.
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The unkempt vegetation on this piece of land poses a serious fire hazard, endangering the neighbouring fuel station that stores highly flammable substances. Residents fear that a major catastrophe is imminent if the situation is not addressed promptly.
Some residents have suggested that if the owners of the land have no immediate plans for the unoccupied property, they should consider leasing it to entities capable of converting it into recreational facility, similar to the school sporting facility diagonally opposite.
The presence of empty and neglected spaces also poses a risk for criminal activities in the suburbs under Ward 18.
BRRA chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira said Ward 18 residents have shown great enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate with the City of Harare in addressing the issues surrounding these underutilised spaces.
“We urge the City of Harare to prioritise the beautification and protection of these areas, as it will not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also contribute to the overall development of our community,” said Mr Mutyasira.
The Harare Drive and Drew Road intersection has become a traffic hazard due to the growing number of informal activities taking place there. The activities do not only disrupt the smooth flow of traffic but also put the safety of the traders at risk of being run over by speeding cars.
Despite several exercises conducted to enforce by-laws, with assistance from the BRRA, the traders always find their way back and have now expanded their wares to include wooden cabins, artefacts, vegetables and charcoal, turning the intersection into a chaotic jungle.
The BRRA suggests that fencing off the area and allowing environmentally friendly temporary commercial activities may be a sustainable solution to this ongoing problem.
The residents’ body says that residents and enterprises in Ward 18 are willing to partner with the municipality or owners of the private open spaces to transform these troublesome areas. The association has presented a number of proposals to the City of Harare but residents are baffled by the local authority’s lack of urgency in considering or implementing these suggestions.
