Online Reporter
Diana NhereraHarare City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting recreational spaces and environmentally sensitive areas from developments that compromise their intended purpose and ecological value.
The city’s Sports and Culture Committee chairperson, Councillor Stanley Manyenga, said council has a responsibility to safeguard recreational centres and ensure that any developments undertaken on such sites preserve the environment and benefit residents.
His remarks follow concerns raised by residents over developments in an area near Lord Malvern High School in Waterfalls.
“As the Sports and Culture Committee, our duty is to safeguard those recreational centres,” said Cllr Manyenga.
“Of course, people apply for them, but at the same time, when they are allocated by the council, we expect them to maintain the environment in that regard.”
“If it is a wetland and it has been allocated by the council, it should be used in a way that does not affect the environment, such as establishing a park, garden or wedding venue that residents can use without putting up buildings or anything that destroys that kind of environment.”
The City of Harare has, in recent years, intensified efforts to protect wetlands, open spaces and recreational facilities amid increasing pressure from urban expansion and land development.
