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Harare City Council (HCC) allegedly misrepresented facts to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to be issued with a certificate to proceed with allocation of stands at Rugare Extension housing project.
This comes as a number of city fathers are facing allegations of criminal abuse of office involving the unprocedural allocation of stands. Copies of letters presented to EMA indicate that HCC used a departmental memorandum to get a certificate from EMA contrary to the expected procedure whereby authority is granted by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Representing residents, Zanu PF shadow Member of Parliament for Southerton, Cde Andrew Makahamadze, has engaged lawyers demanding the nullification of the certificate so that proper procedures are followed.
Through Mapondera and Company Legal Practitioners, Cde Makamadze said the procedures would have involved clearance from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works as well as community participation.
“Our client has since established that such consent was not presented to EMA and in fact, the City of Harare misrepresented that they did not require such consent,” said Mapondera and Company Legal Practitioners.
“We act for Mr Andrew Makahamadze, the shadow MP for Southerton Constituency representing Zanu PF.
“Our client has been following up on the above housing project proposal and how it was authorised and has come to be.
“One of the areas our client has noted is that EMA granted the environmental impact assessment certificate to the association which has resulted in the construction and addition of residential stands previously reserved as open spaces in Rugare.
“It is common because for any expansion of that nature to take place or authority to be given, there must be given amongst others, consent from the Ministry of Local Government prior to EMA,”.
“Our client therefore wishes to know from you on what basis clearance was given to the City of Harare to proceed with this project.”
Online Reporter