Harare City Council Fails To Justify Mushrooming Fuel Stations
THE Harare City Council is under scrutiny for failing to justify the proliferation of fuel stations in the capital raising suspicions of corruption and underhanded activities at the Town House.
These issues have come to light as the Commission of Inquiry which is probing the operations of its affairs continues its work.
The Commission, which is led by retired Justice Maphios Cheda, was established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa mid-year.
The mushrooming of fuel stations, particularly, in questionable circumstances has drawn significant attention.
Harare has seen numerous fuel stations sprouting with some situated close to residential areas violating the Council bylaws.
Harare City Council’s Committee chairperson on Works and Town planning Takudzwa Dzumbunu battled to explain to the Commission how the fuel stations have been granted permission in unsuitable areas.
“First I will respond to the one on Argyle. It is provided for in the local development plan which was advertised and adopted they do not even come to the Committee for us to make a decision. The one on Churchill and Domboshava got a permit before I became the chairperson.
“The one on West I am not sure about that but the major challenge there is that a property owner is allowed to change use of their area if they want to go commercial and currently we do not have a law that stops them from doing that,” said Dzumbunu.
The proximity of some fuel stations has raised eyebrows on the criteria being used by the City Council in approving these plans.
“Some of these service stations were approved by the previous committee and some of them fall under the local development plan,” said Dzumbunu.
When quizzed by Cheda about whether her committee approved the establishment of fuel stations Dzumbunu said:
“No some, like I indicated some. The local development plan sometimes brings in new uses and in this particular one, it then gave into the commercial mixed-use zone on Argyle Road in Avondale. On that particular plan there are areas earmarked for service stations on a plan.” *NewZW*