BORROWDALE RESIDENTS CLASH WITH CHURCH OVER PROPERTY

Latwell Nyangu

BORROWDALE residents have petitioned the City of Harare to bar the United Methodist Church from holding services at a property in the area.

In the petition, the residents said the use of the property for religious activities was a clear violation as this was meant for residential purposes.

The City of Harare had previously issued a warning letter to the church in October 2016 after an inspection found the property being used for church activities without approval.

The residents requested for clarification on whether the church now has the approval and urged the local authorities to issue a prohibition order if no permission was granted.

The area is located at 9 Doveton Road.

“This is a clear misuse of the area. The fact that the City Council has allowed this unauthorised operation to continue is evidence that officials may be complicit in enabling land barons to exploit these spaces for personal gain,” reads the petition.

“This not only violates planning regulations but also undermines the integrity of the neighborhood.

“Residents are urging the local government to enforce planning regulations and uphold community standards, while also calling attention to the possible involvement of corrupt officials in enabling such breaches of zoning laws. We are considering applying for an urgent court order to stop these activities immediately.

“If the church is found to be operating without the proper permits, the residents are calling for penalties and the cessation of church activities on the property.”

The residents complained about disruptions caused by the church’s activities, including increased traffic congestion, blocked roads and excessive noise during services.

The City of Harare is yet to respond to the petition.

However, Harare Residents Trust (HRT) coordinator, Precious Shumba, said residential zoning regulations should be enforced.

“The church should be requested to put in place a sound proof system so that the noise does not affect the surrounding properties,” said Shumba.