Clubs give Harare sleepless nights

Debra Matabvu
The Harare City Council is pondering its next move against sports clubs that have resisted a review of lease agreements signed during the colonial era, which have seen some of the social facilities paying U$1 as annual rentals.
Most clubs signed 99-year leases with colonial municipal authorities, with some of the agreements running through to 2057.
Despite paying as little as US$1, some social clubs charge around US$330 for conferences and cocktails, while weddings and parties attract a minimum US$1 500.
The better facilities record an average five bookings weekly for various functions.
Minutes from the most recent council meeting show that the local authority has engaged the clubs to negotiate new leases. But the majority are not interested in paying a dollar more.
The minutes show that council is basing its hopes on the event that clubs breach existing agreements.
“The finance director reported that the city had about sixty-seven (67) clubs. Efforts were made to engage the clubs in order to negotiate on lease rental reviews.
“The city managed to successfully negotiate and agree on monthly rentals with five clubs. The majority remained adamant that the subsisting agreements between them and the city were legally binding hence may not be subject to rental reviews.
“During discussion the committee expressed concern that negotiations with some of the tenants to review rentals were not yielding results.
“The committee was therefore of the view to re-look at the agreements vis-a-vis current activities at sports clubs and confirm whether there were no breach of subsisting agreement; and in the event that any breach was found, it would be used as the basis for negotiations for rental review or termination of such agreements.”
Urban planning expert Mr Percy Toriro said there was no need for confrontation as the matter could be solved amicably.
“The clubs have to realistic and both parties should come together and solve the matter without any confrontations,” he said. “Residents expect council asserts to be used to derive value that can be used to enhance service delivery.”
Most local authorities are run under by-laws inherited from the colonial period.