Harare West MP pushes for closure of 4 bottle store on behalf of residents

Harare West MP Jessie Majome has revealed that she has been pushing for the recognition of the Sunridge/Sunrise Suburb residents' request for the closure of four bottle stores and beer outlets of operating at the small business centre in the middle of the suburb.

Majome advised the residents of the developments saying finally! after months of waiting and being sent from pillar to post she  received a response from the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) for a letter she  wrote as MP on behalf of Sunridge/Sunrise suburb in Ward 16, in support of the long suffering residents' efforts which had been ignored, requesting the closure of the 4 bottle stores/beer outlets of operating at the small business centre in the middle of the suburb.

"These bottle stores/beer outlets whose legality is questionable are a nuisance to the tranquil suburb as they are havens of crime such as prostitution, drug peddling sexual harassment of female passers by and noise as well as pollution," she said.

"On 11 November 2014 I convened a meeting with Sunridge/Sunrise Neighbourhood Association, the Ward 16 Councillor Mr. Mudavanhu, the District Officer Ms. Mverechena and representatives from the bars operating at the Sunridge Business Centre. Early this year I got to see the first hand the damage these bottle stores are doing to the suburb when I participated in the Sunridge clean up."

  She said she wrote to the then Chairperson of the LLB, Mr. Kwenda on 24 February 2015 but did not get a response.

"Only after I followed up on that letter was I told the LLB had been dissolved. This meant that nothing would be done until a new board was appointed," said Majome.

"I persistently followed up the issue till the Harare Provincial Magistrate His Worship,  Chikwekwe was appointed.  Chikwekwe resigned from the LLB but had sent my letter to  J. Murombedzi the new Chairperson, who has now responded in writing that the board will deliberate on the issue."

She said she was told at the LLB that residents must report any problems they encounter with the bars to contact the police.

"In this case residents wrote a petition objecting the opening of bars as required by law but which was ignored. I'm concerned that Sunridge residents aren't the only ones in the constituency tormented by the invasion of shopping centres by alcohol outlets, a symptom of this sick economy, their fellow sufferers are Greencroft, Ashdown Park, Avonlea, Marlborough Civic Centre and Mabelreign shopping centres," said Majome.

"I will continue to fight in the residents' corner, and wait hopefully for a positive response.  Let's not give up on our rights as residents and let us be active in residents' associations like Sunridge in this case."