Tinaye Agere
Sunday Mail Reporter
TWO buildings obstructing key access routes that will be used by delegates during the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit are set to be demolished, while 10 property owners along these roads have been ordered to repair their buildings under an initiative meant to enhance the general aesthetics of the cityscape.
Under the programme, owners of buildings along Airport Road and some roads leading to Mt Hampden — the venue of the main summit — have been ordered to renovate their buildings by Wednesday. The exercise will be enforced under the Model Building By-Laws (1977), which require property owners to ensure their buildings are maintained and do not pose a danger to the public.
Chief director of spatial planning and development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Shingirayi Mushamba told The Sunday Mail that the exercise will soon be extended to other cities and towns after the summit as part of the urban renewal programme.
“Currently, the exercise targets buildings that are on roads that will be used to access conference centres and accommodation facilities that will be used during the summit,” he said.
“However, the programme will be extended to other cities and towns across the country as part of the urban renewal programme.
“Other towns such as Chegutu have already started the programme, so, as Government, we believe it is something that can be replicated across the country.”Mr Mushamba said the exercise will be enforced by local authorities.
“In terms of Section 49 of the Model Building By-Laws (1977), property owners should not allow any building on their premises to become a danger to the health of its occupants, be a source of unpleasant fumes, smoke or odours and an unsightly disfigurement to the neighbourhood,” he added.
Earlier this year, more than 200 buildings, including 14 high-rise properties in and around Harare’s central business district, were considered unsafe for occupation after city inspectors red-flagged the properties for poor ventilation, lack of emergency exits and general decay.
The building owners were then issued with abatement orders directing them to urgently repair their properties or risk their closure.
Last week, a SADC technical assessment team was in the country, inspecting some of the major projects being undertaken by the Government in preparation for the summit. In a separate interview, Deputy Chief Secretary and National Coordinator for Flagship Programmes and Projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet Engineer Amos Marawa said preparations for the summit were coming to an end. He said the final consignment of materials that will be used to complete construction of villas for high-level delegates to the summit was due to arrive in the country this week.
“There are a few materials left that are being transported to the site,” he said.
“However, the villas are now almost complete and next week (this week), we will begin working on landscaping of the area.”
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