By Sharon Tawuya
Harare, (New Ziana)-The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on Tuesday quizzed officials cornered senior officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works over the proliferation of fuel service stations close to residences, particularly in the capital, posing danger to residents.
Chief director responsible for spatial planning in the Ministry, Honest Magaya admitted that some new service station stands in Harare could have been allocated improperly.
“Service stations must be located 50 metres from schools, houses, churches, libraries and other public gatherings. The minimum distance between two service stations is 150 metres. We accept that there are some service stations that have created problems and we have put measures to address this incompatibility,” he said.
Magaya accused the Harare City Council of illegally approving the allocation of stands in residential areas while some were also too close to each other disregarding by-laws regulating town planning.
“A lot of illegal allocations have taken place in local authorities and we are trying to stop them. There have been cases where underhand deals have taken place,” he said.
Committee chairperson Kuwadzana East legislator Charlton Hwende said illegal land allocations are known to be a result of corruption by councils under the nose of the Ministry.
“We all know the corruption that is happening in local authorities,” he said, citing a service station currently being constructed within the precincts of the Harare Provincial Heroes’ Acre as one glaring example.
“There is a service station under construction in Warren Park. Someone was given permission to build where our heroes should be buried. It’s eating up heroes’ burial space,” said Hwende.
He added: “someone bought space which is reserved for Harare provincial heroes’ burial and is building a service station but you come here and say planners need continuous training, for what?” he asked.
Conceding to the accusations, Magaya said; “We do not want to sound like we are protecting planning teams. We will take a closer look and do investigations.”
New Ziana
