By Darlington Gatsi
CITY of Harare (CoH) town planner, Samuel Nyabeza, professed ignorance regarding the approval of construction plans that have resulted in the proliferation of illegal structures, laying bare the mismanagement at the local authority.
This Thursday, Nyabeza appeared before President Emmerson Mnangagwa-appointed Commission of Inquiry, which is probing council’s affairs dating back to 2017.
Led by Justice Maphios Cheda, the panel continues to unearth gross irregularities at the local authority amid shambolic planning in the capital coming to the fore.
It was revealed that CoH approved construction of several buildings at undesignated sites.
Notably, a shopping mall is being constructed irregularly at the corner of Granta Close and Alpes Road in Vainona.
Nyabeza admitted he was unaware of the mall’s construction, despite acknowledging the planning anomalies.
“Normally, we have what we call a one-stop-shop at council where several departments are represented at the one stop shop by the technicians. These are the technicians who go through each division and will look at issues that are relevant to it. I can confirm that (not being aware of the plan),” said Nyabeza.
Additionally, a warehouse owned by a Chinese businessman, Yung Pingyue, was constructed in Greystone Park violating city by-laws that prohibit such structures in residential areas.
Illegal structures have become common in Harare, with property owners being granted permission after paying bribes.
Councillors have been identified as being at the forefront of regularising settlements in Harare.
Many buildings and houses have been erected in prohibited areas such as wetlands and school sites.
The acting town planner expressed ignorance on the regularisation of some settlements in such undesirable sites.
“It is true that the applications that we received for the 144 stands came as a result of submissions which were made to the director of Housing and Community Services by the district offices and the councillors.
“Councillors would make their submissions to the district offices and the district offices will now bring that submission to the director of housing,” he explained.
Nyabeza indicated to the commission that the irregular properties will be demolished.
“We are going to be very site specific. For all those areas, if it is private land where they would have received demolition or enforcement orders, we will follow up on those orders.
“But, we also have a situation where many people have settled on council land, wetlands, again those areas we will demolish,” Nyabeza said.
