News / National
MP Majome tells local govt officials to abide by the laws
21 Mar 2018 at 07:09hrs | Views
Harare West legislator for MDC-T Jessie Majome has told the local government officials to abide by the laws which demands respect for residents by authorities.
She made the remarks during a meeting with residents and officials held at Ward 16 - Mabelreign.
Residents told Local Government and Council officials to stop annexing green ways and spaces.
"This densification of our beloved low density suburbs was putting pressure on water reticulation system and roads, devaluing our properties and endangering our wetlands. No more development in our suburbs until the Mabelreign Local Plan 20 is complete and the residents agree to it," Majome said.
"I pointed out to the Local Government Ministry and Council officials who were present at the meeting to abide by the Section 3(2)(f) of the Constitution which demands government institutions to 'respect the people of Zimbabwe, from whom the authority to govern is derived'. Government institutions must listen to us the residents!"
She said these officials claimed that the residents agreed to the converting of land use in the 90s, but it was clear they didn't do enough to inform residents about changing of land use of greenways and open spaces.
"I urged local government to not to just do the bear minimal when advertising change of land use, but must use social media and direct mail to ensure they reach most residents. At the moment there is the Mabelreign Community Plan 20 which is work in progress. However residents and I took exception that this survey which took down only 14% of the 4700 property owners views as a sure sample figure determining the will of residents in the formulation of this plan. As a resident in Ward 16 I didn't receive this questionnaire which was said to have been given to all the property owners in the Ward," she said.
"Officials hiding behind the Town and Country Planning Act, said they had done all that was required of them by law. They tried to pass the buck to me saying legislators will have to pass laws to change the way residents are informed about change of land use. I explained to them that it's the Minister who has to come up with the laws which will then be debated in Parliament. The Local Government ministry was only able to bulldoze the Local Government Bill which was only meant to fire Councillors and mayors."
"It is my hope that government officials forward the message to their principals that we don't want new land developments in our Ward! Thank you Councillor Manjoro for convening this important indaba and thank you to all the residents who attended. Imagine on an odd Friday morning, more than 100 Harare Westerners from Ward 16 attended. What is your take on this issue of land developments in our Harare West suburbs?"
She made the remarks during a meeting with residents and officials held at Ward 16 - Mabelreign.
Residents told Local Government and Council officials to stop annexing green ways and spaces.
"This densification of our beloved low density suburbs was putting pressure on water reticulation system and roads, devaluing our properties and endangering our wetlands. No more development in our suburbs until the Mabelreign Local Plan 20 is complete and the residents agree to it," Majome said.
"I pointed out to the Local Government Ministry and Council officials who were present at the meeting to abide by the Section 3(2)(f) of the Constitution which demands government institutions to 'respect the people of Zimbabwe, from whom the authority to govern is derived'. Government institutions must listen to us the residents!"
She said these officials claimed that the residents agreed to the converting of land use in the 90s, but it was clear they didn't do enough to inform residents about changing of land use of greenways and open spaces.
"I urged local government to not to just do the bear minimal when advertising change of land use, but must use social media and direct mail to ensure they reach most residents. At the moment there is the Mabelreign Community Plan 20 which is work in progress. However residents and I took exception that this survey which took down only 14% of the 4700 property owners views as a sure sample figure determining the will of residents in the formulation of this plan. As a resident in Ward 16 I didn't receive this questionnaire which was said to have been given to all the property owners in the Ward," she said.
"Officials hiding behind the Town and Country Planning Act, said they had done all that was required of them by law. They tried to pass the buck to me saying legislators will have to pass laws to change the way residents are informed about change of land use. I explained to them that it's the Minister who has to come up with the laws which will then be debated in Parliament. The Local Government ministry was only able to bulldoze the Local Government Bill which was only meant to fire Councillors and mayors."
"It is my hope that government officials forward the message to their principals that we don't want new land developments in our Ward! Thank you Councillor Manjoro for convening this important indaba and thank you to all the residents who attended. Imagine on an odd Friday morning, more than 100 Harare Westerners from Ward 16 attended. What is your take on this issue of land developments in our Harare West suburbs?"
Source - Byo24News
