By 
The proliferation of service stations across low density residential areas in an irregular manner exposed manipulation of procedures to suit certain individuals within the Harare city council. The ongoing city council enquiry proceedings unearthed the negligence of the council towards the safety of the people in terms of fuel service stations locations.
When probed deeper if the residents’ objections were taken into account before the approval of the service station, Samuel Nyabezi, the director of Urban Planning Services in Harare added that the stations were established through a local development plan by the city council through procedures conducive to manipulation but initially denied any power play being involved.
By Gamuchirai Mapako
Mr Nyabezi, who is responsible for overseeing the entire urban landscape planning, ensuring sustainable and orderly expansion and development process in Harare, ensuring sustainable and orderly expansion, added that the involvement of private players in these fuel stations installations make it difficult for the department to reject the offers. The exponential growth
in service stations situated in the centre of residential areas point to internal corruption in the Harare city council.
Residential areas like Avondale, Mabelreign, Manresa, Retreat and several others were of major concern. The stations in the respective places were authorised by the planning authorities only after an exhibition is done as explained by Mr Nyabezi. According to him, the plan of the station is to be put on exhibition and displayed for two months, allowing the residents or the public to bring forward any objections.
When asked further if due diligence was done in approving the construction of the service stations in question, the director of Urban Planning Services, added that the information made available to him showed that complaints were brought up after the stations were already operational. He however recognised that there was fault on the the city council’s side.
“I have always said to people that for the Avondale area, we went to sleep, I admit that we were supposed to supervise the preparation of the local plan in a better way than we did”, said Mr Nyabezi.
Three service stations in Avondale were mentioned, with one being built on a partially demolished residential home and is surrounded by several other homes. The location of the fuel service station raised several concerns, the most important ones being that they posed an environmental and mortal danger to those living in the respected areas.
Nyabezi stated that before a station is constructed the applicant is required by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to carry out an environmental impacts’ assessment. However, the mayor of the city of Harare made it known to those present that there were “Developmental corridors” in place which allows the owners to bypass the normal channel of getting the stations approved.
The corruptly placed service stations as said by the mayo, Mr Mafume are presented under the guise of developing a certain area. When all is said and done, this subject is of major concern to the public and the manner in which these stations are situated is unethical and go against urban planning’s norms.
Comments