Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
RESIDENTS of Glen View 1, Harare, are locked in a dispute with Harare City Council over the allocation of residential infill stands on an open space that houses a community borehole, sewage infrastructure and a high-voltage transformer.
There are fears the development could compromise essential services and public safety.
The contested land, located between 24th, 23rd, 21st and 20th crescents, is also used as an emergency assembly and access point by residents.
Community members are demanding that the area remain an open space, arguing that housing developments on the site threaten critical infrastructure serving nearly 2 800 residents.
Despite the objections, two houses have already been constructed on the land.
Residents allege the structures were built directly above sewer mains, raising concerns over possible pipe bursts and contamination of the community borehole.
Residents’ representative Mr Desmond Manatse accused the Harare City Council of being dishonest about the zoning status of the land.
“That’s our fire point where we go in terms of emergency,” said Mr Manatse.
“There are ZESA cables, and the two houses already built are on top of sewer lines. We are worried about how they will connect to the system without affecting our community borehole.”
Mr Manatse said efforts to engage senior council officials, including the Town Clerk and Town Planner, had yielded little progress, accusing authorities of being evasive on the matter.
He said residents recently approached the courts seeking to stop the developments, but the case was dismissed on a technicality after the court ruled that the residents’ group lacked legal standing because it was not registered as a formal association.
“We have a challenge with these infill developments,” he said.
“These stands must be demolished because they are blocking access.”
However, a council official who declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the Press defended the allocation of the stands, insisting that the area had always been designated for residential development under the Glen Norah and Glen View masterplan.
“The area is zoned for residential stands according to our Glen Norah and Glen View plan,” the official said.
“We had initially created four residential stands, but after realising there was a borehole and a transformer, we reduced them to two. We also left space for access roads, so as far as council is concerned, it is a done deal.”
Efforts to obtain an official comment from council spokesperson Mr Stanley Gama were unsuccessful, despite him acknowledging receipt of questions sent by this publication.
Peter Tanyanyiwa