Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A HEAVY stench of human excreta sweeps across part of Marondera central business district (CBD), leaving shoppers and passers-by in discomfort.
The invasion of the National Railways of Zimbabwe’s (NRZ) servitude by space barons and traders has brought along with it detrimental health effects in the farming town, located about 74km east of Harare.
The servitude, just a stone throw away from the CBD, is now home to illegal traders who have erected sub-standard structures with no ablution facilities at all.
Some of the structures are erected a few metres from the railway line posing great danger to humans in case of a derailment.
“It is a pity that this (invasion) is being done in full glare of both NRZ and Marondera Municipality, without any move to stop it,” said Marondera Residents Open Forum director Tapiwa Chengeta.
Mashonaland East Environmental Management Agency provincial publicity officer Astas Mabwe professed ignorance when asked about environmental violations along the railway line.
“I am not aware of it,” Mabwe said.
According to some full council minutes from a June meeting, the Municipality of Marondera distanced itself from the servitude invasion.
The local authority rather blamed the NRZ for the mess.
According to the full council minutes, Marondera district development co-ordinator (DDC) Clemence Masawi proposed to meet NRZ officials “to stop allocating trading spaces along the railway servitude”.
“Cllr Chipashu raised concerns about the illegal and uncontrolled developments taking place along the railway servitude,” part of the minutes read.
“The town clerk [Rinashe Nyamuzihwa] concurred with Cllr Chipashu that the developments were not up to standard and were not pleasing.
“He explained that a meeting with NRZ would be arranged. He added that a letter to register council’s displeasure regarding the developments would be sent to NRZ, and copied to the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East province.”
It was revealed in the meeting that the local authority has since informed the Local Government ministry’s permanent secretary, who is reportedly seized with the matter.
“The permanent secretary also wrote a complaint letter to NRZ regarding the developments, as well as directing them to stop allocating stands along the railway servitude,” the minutes read.
Council bemoaned rampant defecation along the railway line as the majority of erected structures do not have ablution facilities.
“The house registered displeasure regarding the illegal developments along the railway servitude,” the minutes read.
“It was noted that most of the buildings had no ablution facilities, and there was open defecation, which was a public health time bomb.
“It was also noted that the best approach to address the issue was to engage NRZ.
“The DDC concurred that dialogue was the way to go.
“He explained that previously, NRZ had been engaged over the same issues and an agreement had been reached to stop allocations, but they have continued with the allocations, without council guidance.
“Thus, council needs to start enforcing its by-laws to bring sanity and order to town.”
A health time bomb is set to explode around the area as the rainy season begins.
NRZ has, however, rubbished council’s claims that its officials were behind the mess along the servitude.
However, according to NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura, the invasion is being led by Marondera Municipality.
He said NRZ only recognises its 10 tenants with leases along its servitude.
“Railway tenants in Marondera start just after the Main Station towards Mutare, coming from Harare along the highway,” he said.
“All those seen from PetroTrade garage (formerly Comoil), as you enter Marondera town, starting with the Truck Inn, Gum Pole Sales, Tombstones, Car Wash after Frecca Garage, right to the opposite town engineer’s offices, where there is an arts and craft centre.
“The flower guys and Mahusekwa rank are not railway tenants, though some have encroached into the railway reserve area, giving railways challenging times since there are no health facilities in these designated areas.”
Asked to comment on traders who have erected green makeshift steel cabins right close to the railway line, Kunambura put the blame on the council.
“We have also verified council involvement in the railway servitude and noted that vendors on ground selling various wares are being charged by the Municipality of Marondera for permission to display their wares on the ground,” he said.
“Some even have receipts from POS [point-of-sale] machines indicating they make payments to the Municipality of Marondera.
“For years, as Railways, we have engaged in failed attempts, together with our own security personnel, to remove these vendors as they end up displaying wares on the railway line, but behind council will be collecting cash from them.”
Added Kunambura: “We don’t settle people where there are no proper ablution facilities, so anywhere where there are no ablution facilities, they aren’t formally settled by us.
“There is a difference between servitude and railway reserve land. You can do developments on servitude, not reserve land.”
Marondera Municipality spokesperson Kudakwashe Tapfumanei refuted claims by NRZ that council was collecting rates from the invaders.
“NRZ allocated spaces along the railway servitude, although council also understands that there are also some traders operating there who were not allocated space by the NRZ,” Tapfumanei said.
“All traders operating along the railway servitude are doing so illegally without the approval of council.”
On collecting revenue from the invaders, Tapfumanei said: “No, council is not collecting any revenue from the traders as they are operating illegally.
“Council is the planning authority responsible for approving any buildings or structures within the Municipality of Marondera.”
Added Tapfumanei: “However, the NRZ did not consult the council before granting leasing permits to individuals along the railway servitude.
“Council maintains that the railway servitude should only be used for railway operations and not for any other activities.
“Council is currently engaged in high-level discussions with the NRZ and relevant ministries to find a resolution to this issue. Council is confident that a solution will be reached to address the matter.”
Investigations by Truth Diggers revealed that barons along the servitude were renting out spaces from US$200 to US$400 monthly.
Some of the traders told NewsDay Weekender that they cross the Harare-Mutare Highway to use ablution facilities at a fast-food outlet.
However, the majority revealed that they were into open defecation along the railway line.
*This story was produced with support from Truth Diggers, an investigative journalism unit under Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), publishers of NewsDay, Zimbabwe Independent, The Standard and Southern Eye. AMH also operates an online broadcasting channel, HStv.
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