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Residents irked by town engineer's decision
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
July 06, 2010

Residents of Tynwald South are heading for a showdown with the Harare City Council after the Local Authority's Town Engineer; Mr. Changunda approved the construction of a main sewer pipeline to pass through private residential properties for the new housing project (Fontainebleau Housing Scheme). This move will affect more than twenty house owners in Tynwald South who have suddenly found the sizes of their yards being reduced by almost 30%. The Housing Developer for the Fontainebleau Housing Scheme has threatened to use force should residents decide to resist the move. This is in spite of the fact that the house owners in this area possess Title Deeds.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has received information from some Council sources who indicated that Mr. Changunda is aware that his approval of the project was a mistake but cancelling the project would be suicidal and can lead to the possible loss of his job. CHRA also conducted a meeting with the Tynwald residents who revealed that in October 2009, some uniformed police were unleashed to harass residents in a bid to force and intimidate them to agree to the construction sewer pipeline. This was after the residents had resisted the project by sending letters of complaints to the City's Town Planning, Water and Sanitation Departments. In a response letter dated 23 October 2009, the City of Harare Town Planning Department highlighted that "the matter was being dealt with and relevant departments were being notified" of the residents' objection to the construction of the main sewer line through their properties.

Residents are however shocked that the Fontainebleau Housing Scheme Land Developer has vowed to disregard the residents' objections as changing the route of the sewer pipeline would be too expensive for him. The residents also engaged the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who requested for the site plans of the area from both the Developer and the City of Harare. The maps were not availed and the ZLHR made a High court Chamber application in April this year.

It has also emerged that the land that was allocated to Fontainebleau Housing Scheme had been previously earmarked for construction of a school, churches, flats and shops. The other stand, which was meant for the construction of a block of flats was purchased by Mother Touch Private School a move which residents have condemned saying that the changes of land use by the City of Harare was done nicodemously and without consulting residents. It also defies logic to note that the City of Harare is allocating land meant for residential purposes to private property owners at a time when Harare is staggering with a 500 000 housing waiting list.
Residents have castigated the City of Harare's senior officials for being corrupt; a situation that has seriously compromised the residents' right to get quality services. Residents said that the Land Developer have the guts to threaten them because they have the support of some Council officials whom they bribed and residents also highlighted that the whole development project was on partisan lines.

CHRA urges the City of Harare to be transparent in all its operations and also make sure that corrupt elements are relieved of their duties in Council. The City of Harare is a public institution that should be accountable to the public and as such, the interests of the public should always come first. CHRA has always emphasized on the importance of consultation of residents before any Council project is implemented. The City of Harare's continued failure to realize that residents are key stakeholders to the success of its work is the reason why Harare is characterized by constant clashes between residents and Council while service delivery continues to collapse.

CHRA remains committed to fighting for the residents cause; advocating for good, transparent and accountable local governance as well as lobbying for quality municipal services on a non partisan basis.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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