adminInnocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Construction of the $100 million Mall of Zimbabwe complex and surrounding developments in Borrowdale has been stalled by the Environmental Management Agency, which is yet to issue the developers with an approval permit.
This is despite that EMA has subjected the developers to 12 Environmental Impact Assessments instead of one which is normally carried out for such projects.
It is now believed that the development is being blocked by some competitors who are using some environmental organisations and some councillors to protect their interests.
The organisations claim that the site is a wetland, but the developers, Augur Investments, argue that they were not developing on the wetland, but around the wetland.
Augur has now written to Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri seeking her intervention after more than four years of battling with EMA.
Augur chairperson Mr Ken Sharpe confirmed the development, but refused to shed more details on the matter saying they were carrying out discussions with the Ministry.
“I can confirm we are still to get a permit, but we are currently deliberating the matter with the Ministry, hence I cannot shed more details,” he said.
Last year, Augur took EMA to the High Court after it allegedly increased the size of the wetland departing from the agreed plans.
The court ruled in Augur’s favour.
EMA has since carried out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) stakeholders’ consultation in which Augur Investments showcased their plans, while residents aired their views as part of the process.
Mr Sharpe insists that they will not do anything that will harm the environment as they are willing to invest in saving the wetlands which are under threat from dumping and illegal farming activities.
He says the Long Cheng Plaza in Belvedere was built on an area said to be a wetland, but the developers improved the wetland.
“It was not destroyed, it is actually functioning better,” said Mr Sharpe. “If others were given a chance, why can’t we be given a chance?”
Mr Sharpe argued that part of the development objective was to incorporate in the landscape a park with water features, and weirs as well as a constructed wetland area, which was far more efficient in performance than the existing natural wetland.
Online Reporter