By Lloyd Takawira
HARARE City Council (HCC) has ordered residents who are operating “illegally erected” boom gates saying all roads in Harare remain public unless specified otherwise.
In a statement, acting town clerk Eng Phakamile Moyo said that , all illegal boom gates erected in Harare should be removed .
“Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 30 and 47 of the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18] that all boom gates erected in Harare without Harare City Council authorization are prohibited. Residents that have constructed unapproved boom gates are instructed to remove them. Council will assist with removal where communities fail to be compliant. The cost of removal will be passed onto the owners.”
He said that the increase in illegal boom gates has slowed down service provision as well as unnecessary congestion.
“There is an increase in the number of unsanctioned boom gates particularly in the low-density areas. All roads in Harare remain public roads unless specified otherwise. As such, no one shall close or cause to close such roads without express consent from the Local Authority.
“Council and other service providers are failing to deliver services due to some sections of roads that are illegally closed off with boom gates. In some extreme cases, congestion is being caused by closure of some roads that result in traffic being channeled to the few remaining free roads. City by-laws and relevant law statutes will be used to enforce compliance…”
There has been a number of illegal boom gates being operated by youths particularly in some low density suburbs as well as some high density suburbs.