Zimpapers Logo

Sheillah Mapani Herald Reporter
Residents of Greystone Park in Harare have petitioned Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni against the suspected foul allocation of stands at the Greystone Park wetland by the City Council.

They have expressed concern over the suspected illegal developments taking place at a wetland between Gaydon and Ettington roads. Stands have been pegged and boreholes have been drilled at the wetland, which is a catchment to Greystone Park Dam.

A concerned resident Mr Tapuwa Chakanetsa said they have contacted the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the local councillor concerning the issue, but they are yet to take any action.

“We contacted the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and they said they will send an official to assess the situation on the ground. We have also contacted our local Councillor Allan Markham on the issue and he said he was going to convene a meeting with the residents,” he said.

Addressing journalists last week on a wetland tour conducted by the Harare Wetlands Trust, Councillor Markham articulated distress and said he also suspects corruption from individual council members who are serving their own interests since there was no communication to the district office by the council.

“We have an invasion from the council whereby they are selling wetlands as stands without the district office knowing. As the councillor of the area, I should have signed and approved the allocation of the land, but I was not consulted. This means there is foul play and what they have done here is illegal,” he explained.

In their petition, the residents demand that no development of designated wetland or parkland is sold off for residential or commercial development and also request answers on how these changes have occurred. The Harare City Council is yet to respond to the petition.