Desmond Munemo, H-Metro Reporter
A Harare City Council (HCC) official is alleged to be parceling out stands on disputed wetlands areas amid revelations of underhand dealings.
HCC Estates and Evaluations manager Engineer Emmanuel Mutambirwa is reportedly allowing developments on Harare wetlands and was last year exposed in report by a Special Committee (SC) appointed by the Mayor of Harare Herbert Gomba investigating the commercial land sales and leases.
In the report, council officials involved in allocating and planning of land were accused of not following procedures in terms of section 152 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).
The SC cited that land was not being sold at market prices and proper procedures were not being followed for the past years.
H-Metro caught up with Engineer Mutambirwa who is responsible for the permits, and land allocation processes and he repudiated the claims.
“That is not my place to allocate stands on wetlands; it is the planning department that is responsible for that.
“I don’t deal with residential stands but commercial ones and all I do is implementing what has been provided by council.
“For example, the one in Kambuzuma where there is a church called Nazarene, this was done 10 years ago and I was not part of the process.
A leaked dossier exposed Engineer Mutambirwa in the allocation of residential stands in disputed wetlands areas in Newlands where New Life Covenant Church is being developed, Mufakose Mishi wetland spot, proposed site plan for 195 stands in Westlea wetland, Mabvuku/Tafara area, Dzivaresekwa 4 close to the Tsikwa Trust Gum Tree Plantation, Glenview Patrenda Wayopp police station area, stand 18103 at the corner of Brooks drive and Malta Road in Braeside, Highfields wetland between Main Street and Mangwende Drive, Kambuzuma church development a few meters away from Marimba river, Kuwadzana wetland paddocks and Tynwald South behind Tynwald gardens
Documents indicate the HCC Director of Works, City Planner and Director of Housing departments failed to respond to the numerous requests from wetlands trust organizations who have been demanding the verification of development permits on these disputed allocations.
The leaked dossier contained allegations that In Hillside Park; there is an ongoing development of a wedding venue on a wetland at corner Chiremba road and Brookes drives by a former Minister.
Claims are that she was offered a five year Lease by the City Fathers and the development is going ahead without an EIA, Permit from Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment Council.
The former Minister has reportedly started the development despite the pending court order not to develop.
Hillside Residents in October last year petitioned the city of Harare, Minister of State and EMA to stop the development on the park.
In October last year, Engineer Mutambirwa was requested to resolve a land dispute involving a Chinese firm and German Shepherd Dog Club in Hillside Park area and he refused to attend saying he prefers to use his office for such matters.
Furthermore, Mt Pleasant residents signed a petitioned for a proposed development of Cluster houses in a wetland in bordered by Twickenham Drive, Pershore Rise, Westborough road and Harare Drive.
Reports say building materials have since been delivered on the site by Chinese Company.
Wetlands organizations have of late been lobbying for the protection of wetlands being invaded through the hand of HCC and the portfolio committee on environment and tourism on wetland management called for an immediate action to stop further destruction of wetlands and their ecosystem services and restore those that have been disturbed.
H-Metro has learnt of Residents Associations’ pact to petition authorities over the City’s Evaluation and Planning departments’ involvement in the destruction wetlands in Harare.
– HMETRO
