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Victor Maphosa Herald Reporter
A community basketball court along Trowbridge Road in Mabelreign, Harare, has been sold by Harare City Council, in violation of the urban planning laws, to a home seeker who is now bearing the brunt of the council’s arrogant slap in the face of the local community and wants a replacement stand.
Stand 3629, measuring 2 500 square metres, was allocated to Mr Samuel Dumbu in March this year after he applied for a housing stand. He was startled to get a basketball court instead of an ordinary vacant council stand, and now he and his family are involuntarily hosting their new neighbours who did not stop using the basketball court.
Mr Dumbu was charged $776 250 (US$9 026) and has paid about $500 000. The basketball court is right in the middle of the stand.
Mr Dumbu erected a wooden makeshift cabin a few metres from the basketball court and some residents now trespass on to the stand for games. The neighbourhood was neither consulted nor informed of the change of land use and most expressed concern over the invasion of the recreational land deliberately set aside for the use of all.
Mr Dumbu produced documents showing that he had been allocated the stand by council after duly applying for a council-owned housing stand. Part of his offer letter from the city council dated March 18 2020 reads; “You have been selected for allocation of a residential stand number 3629 depicted on layout plan number TP2F/WR/06/18 measuring 2 500 square meters in Mabelreign Township.”
The offer letter was signed by Mr Addmore Nhekairo, in his capacity as the director of housing and community services.
But Mr Dumbu said the outcry from other residents has stopped him from developing the stand. He engaged council to find a solution to the dispute and was awaiting a response.
“Yes, I applied for a residential stand and I was called for an interview, just like anyone else. I was then allocated a residential stand in Mabelreign. However, it’s unfortunate that I was allocated on a basketball court.
“I did not object to the allocation since I desperately needed a home. On realising resistance by the community, I could not proceed with any developments. At the moment, I am negotiating with council to allocate me another stand which does not deprive the community of recreational facilities,” said Mr Dumbu.
Harare City Council has been coming under increasing criticism for converting into residential stands a lot of public land set aside for parks, recreation facilities, public open spaces and the like. Much of this land is designated wetland as well, and was allocated for open and recreational space to provide for those vital needs without cutting into the land more suitable for building.
Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba condemned the illegal allocation of stands by council.
Mr Shumba urged council to abide with all local statutes governing the allocation of land and respect social amenities.
“As Harare Residents Trust, we are concerned as City of Harare is continuing to allow councillors and officials to manipulate land allocation procedures resulting in them pegging stands on land reserved for recreational facilities,” he said.
“If you check closely, there is no compliance with provisions of Regional Town and Council Act and provisions of the Urban Councils Act. What it means is that the council, particularly under the former Mayor Hebert Gomba, conducted its business corruptly and allowed councillors to parcel out council land on recreational facilities.
“Taking over recreational facilities is an insult to the rate payers and a serious violation of Urban Planning rules and regulations.
“What has happened in areas like Marlborough and Mabelreign is a reflection of the calibre of councillors in those areas. No professional councillor would ever allow the take-over of recreational facilities for the purposes of allocating residential stands,” said Mr Shumba.
Serious land allocation problems, have been noted in Wards 16 and 41 of Mabelreign and Marlborough, according to Mr Shumba.
A resident staying close to the basketball court, Mr Brian Mackenzie, urged the council to take action and stop taking over recreational facilities in the area.
“I told council that this is not acceptable. We even approached Mr Addmore Nhekairo (housing director) over the issue and he promised to reverse that decision and we are still waiting. That place is at the heart of the community.”
Another resident, Mr Maxwell Kwashirai, condemned council’s decision and added that the community had also lost football and netball pitches through the same method.
“Council did not even conduct community consultation before allocating this stand. Taking away the basketball court will have a devastating impact on the community. We raised this issue with our councillor but nothing materialised.”
Harare City Council communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said: “I am still waiting for responses from relevant departments. I will only be able to comment on the issue after being briefed by the departmental heads.”
Council has come under fire from residents for parcelling out residential stands on pieces of land around the city that had been reserved for recreational purposes.
In some of the areas, council has since destroyed already existing facilities to create space for allocating residential stands, violating statutes that protect social amenities.
Council is also alleged to have sold land that had been declared a wetland by the Environment Management Authority, using up the capital city’s green spaces.
The dormitory town of Chitungwiza has also been caught in the same predicament, with residents crying foul.
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