Suburban
THE Ward 7 Ratepayers and Residents Association had expressed concern over the flagrant flouting of building by-laws by property owners and developers.
Suburban Reporter
The W7RRA’s comment follow reports last week that at least three new buildings including one at a block of flats were being built along boundary walls in Ward 7.
Ward 7 residents questioned the developments and sought explanations from the city authorities.
“The Ward 7 Ratepayers & Residents Association views with concern the apparent growing trend of property owners’ and developers’ flouting of bylaws governing building structures in the city’s residential areas.
“The tall structure, right on the roadside boundary of the new complex of flats, corner Huntly and Ascot roads, in Avondale West, is surely a case in point. What exactly is it? How does it conform to Harare’s building regulations? Who in CoH put their signature to the relevant plan? Were the closest neighbours consulted?” the residents body said in a statement.
W7RRA said the City of Harare was failing to enforce its own by-laws and people now believe they can get away with any breaches of the regulations.
“Harare City Council is failing to enforce the relevant regulations consistently and systematically, and many people now believe they can get away with whatever they want. Others probably do not even realise they are breaking the law. We have also heard of too many transgressions being ‘regularised’.
“All this is a recipe for chaos. It is untenable, it is not fair to all those who observe municipal bylaws and regulations and it has to stop.
“City of Harare Development Control officers should have the means – including transport – and spend the time of day, moving around and checking that all building developments are in order, as well as following up residents’ tip offs. That might begin to send the message out, that you do not just go ahead and do as you please,” said W7RRA.
One of the buildings is being built at a new block of flats along the boundary wall at the corner of Huntly and Ascot Road in Avondale West.
Residents say the new structure at the block of flats is too close to the road and a poses danger. The development is right next to Number 44 Ascot Road right up against the external boundary of the property, facing Huntly, something which residents said they found bizarre.
Last week, Councillor Gotora said he had received residents’ concerns on the developments and had sent the development control unit to the site.
“I received the concerns from residents and I have sent the development control unit together with building inspectors to the site. The district officer confirmed that the development control unit was on the ground investigating the matter, so we are waiting for their findings and we act,” said Cllr Gotora.
Suburban visited the site last week and the contractor said they could not comment on anything but claimed everything was properly approved. The contactor referred all questions to HomeLux whom he said were the owners of the development.
“I am positive everything is in order. However, I am not in a position to comment on anything. I will have to refer you to HomeLux who are the owners of the development. You can find them along Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road),” said the contractor.
No comment could be obtained from HomeLux.
Cllr Gotora said the development control unit found out that the structures flouting the building lines are not the flats but a guard room and a refuse room, which are normally close to the gate so it’s not a problem.
However, they are now seeking to establish if the whole structure was properly approved.
“The response from the development control is that the building that is flouting building lines is not a building. It’s a guard room and what they are calling a refuse room where they will put their bins. So those at the boundary walls are not the structures but just a guard room and a refuse room.
But we are now pursuing to establish if the whole building was properly approved because the development control unit was shown plans that were not stamped.
They said the stamped ones are there so we are now waiting for those, so we know,” said Cllr Gotora.
Two other new buildings are also being developed too close to the boundaries at the corner of Chester Road and Clare Road and near the top of Cornwall Road. Both of them are close to the new block of flats on Huntly Road.
