adminH-Metro Reporter
NOISE and immoral behaviour at bars in Sunridge and Mabelreign have forced residents of the two suburbs to raise the red flag.
The residents are complaining about the levels of noise coming from the bars.
They are also concerned about the unbecoming behaviour exhibited by revellers at the concerned joints at Sunridge and Mabelreign shopping centres.
Harare mayor, Jacob Mafume, said the City of Harare will make a resolution to reduce the number of bars they license.
He, however, blamed the Liquor Licensing Board for the way they keep issuing the liquor licences.
“There’s a committee in the Local Government Ministry, it’s called a Liquor Board,” he said.
“The whole city has been turned into a beer festival by this Liquor Board.
“I do not understand how it operates. As Council, we will make a resolution so that if I make that resolution in Council, you will understand who has overridden me.”
Residents of Sunridge said bars such as Homeground, Fat Cow and Wadi close late and their patrons’ park cars in front of people’s gates.
The revellers are also being accused of relieving themselves everywhere and harassing young girls and women visiting the shopping centre during the day.
“My concern is the Sunridge Shopping Centre where Council has given permission to bars,” said one resident who identified himself as Welly.
“We find children blowing used condoms and playing with them as balloons.
“They (the bars) make too much noise.”
Another resident, Morleen Harris, said some days they are forced to call the police to raid and shut down the bars because of the irritating noise and wayward behaviour of the patrons.
“The other night I had to call the police to come and shut them down at 10pm,” she said.
“There is a time limit for noise but nobody seems to be interested.
“We have children going to the shops and they are being teased by all these drunkards.
“We are in a residential area so how is it that they have the permit to operate a bar?”
Complaints were also raised about the patrons, who park their cars in front of residents’ gates, obstructing the property owners from accessing their houses.
“They park in front of our house. Our children come late from work and they are too scared to even open the gate because of these cars,” said one resident.
A Mabelreign resident, Prosper Hwata, said the numerous bars at Mabelreign Shopping Centre were a big nuisance, in terms of noise pollution, and immoral behaviour by patrons.
“What do the by-laws say about the number of bottle stores at Mabelreign shops?” asked the resident.
“There are a lot of drunkards.
“We can smell urine stench and we fear our children will be corrupted.
“The whole shopping centre is now full of bars.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter