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“I will approach Minister Coltart over the matter,” he said.
He asked town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi to approach the ministry’s secretary Dr Stephen Mahere to raise health issues.
The city’s health department is responsible for checking and approving public premises.
“We want churches investigated for running schools and crèches at their premises,” said a councillor.
Clr Joyce Kariwo raised the matter which was on the finance committee minutes.
Clr Peter Marange complained that pre-school children were being forced to use adult toilets as the churches did not have child friendly facilities.
Properly registered pre-schools that are regularly inspected have smaller and child friendly ablution facilities.
These are used under supervision.
Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto warned that any action taken should not disturb the smooth flow of education.
He was supported by Clr Phumulani Musagwiza.
Clr Thomas Muzuva implored councillors to take note of the churches’ contribution to the education system in Zimbabwe.
“We no longer have any hot seating in Harare because of the churches that have opened schools at their premises,” he said.
The finance committee had raised concern that some churches had stayed for many years on council land without paying rent.
This means the relevant council departments would now have to compile the lists of the churches that are not paying rent.
Churches that have converted the leased properties into money-making ventures would pay rents that are commensurate with business enterprises.
Council has a standing resolution that allows it to charge churches nominal rents because they are registered as no profit making organisations.
Online Reporter