Community Mirror Reporter
Residents of Harare’s Ward 17 voiced strong opposition to the unchecked proliferation of Fuel Service Stations in their area during a community feedback meeting held last Saturday at McDonald Swimming Pool in Avondale.
The meeting, which marked a significant improvement in community engagement despite modest attendance, brought to light serious concerns about the City of Harare’s planning procedures, particularly regarding the development of service stations in residential areas.
Ward 17 Councillor Happymore Gotora said the service stations are so close to each other and some are situated between residential places, which pose danger to residents and motorists themselves. The residents and City of Harare officials agreed to hold another meeting to talk specifically about planning and noise pollution.
“We agreed that we are going to convene another meeting specifically to discuss the issue of service stations and planning. Residents are also complaining about noise pollution and we will also seek to address this problem,” he said.
The controversy deepened when it emerged that neither the residents nor their elected representative had been consulted about recent developments.
“The local development plan was implemented without any consultation with me as the local councillor or the residents,” Councillor Gotora emphasized, highlighting a significant breach in community engagement protocols.
John Vekris, an Avondale resident, pointed to a widening disconnect between the council and community members.
“There is a gap between reality and experience and what Council tells us. It also showed Council how fed up we are and how we are drawing the line. We need better service, better answers, and more transparency,” he said.
Harare’s urban landscape continues to evolve, raising concerns about planned development.
The meeting also addressed other pressing issues, including new council levies and water service delivery.
City of Harare Acting Revenue Manager Alfred Guni acknowledged systemic challenges in bill delivery and promised improvements.
“We are currently resolving our system issues and should be able to resume sending bills via email this coming week,” said Guni, addressing residents’ concerns about billing transparency.
Resident Carole Pearce praised the meeting’s format.
“What’s great about this meeting was that Councillor Gotora addressed our concerns rather than coming with a pre-formulated list of general concerns. He conducted it beautifully and kept everybody calm,” she said.
The controversy over fuel service station proliferation in Ward 17 reflects broader challenges in Harare’s urban planning and governance. The city has faced criticism for poor service delivery and governance issues, which have been attributed to maladministration and lack of proper consultation processes.
A follow-up meeting focused specifically on planning issues is scheduled for next month, where the acting director of planning will be expected to explain the approval process for service stations in the area. This development comes as the City of Harare’s works and town planning committee has acknowledged the need to update local plans and potentially remove fuel service stations that are too close to residential areas.
