Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council is investigating business operations at the Harare Exhibition Park following reports that the lease agreement between the city and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society does not allow for sub-leasing. The matter was discussed

during a full council meeting  last week.
“The city treasurer in liaison with the director of urban planning services and director of health services investigate on the business operations taking place in the show grounds,” read part of the minutes.

Councilors are of the opinion that the lease agreement only provided for agricultural exhibition purposes. They raised concern that the patch was being used for restaurants and car sales among other profit-making ventures.
Clr Stewart Mutizwa said activities taking place in the show grounds were illegal as they were not provided for in the lease agreement.

Clr Herbert Gomba argued that council should be collecting rentals from all the businesses operating from there.
His counterpart, Clr Thomas Muzuva said no other activities should be allowed at the grounds except the Harare Agricultural Show that takes place in August.
However, Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said the city should commend the ZAS management for making full use of the grounds.

He said money generated from the rentals was ploughed into the maintenance of the grounds.
However, councillors argued that the grounds are in a sorry state as compared to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds.