The Harare City Council (HCC) held a consultative meeting with residents to discuss their cluster housing policy on 20 August this year. Prior to this meeting, a group of ratepayers and residents from the suburbs of Mount Pleasant, Groombridge, Arundel, Northwood, Vainona, Pomona (encompassing Wards 17 and 19), and surrounding areas submitted a petition with their concerns.
The petition states that in December 2023, the HCC conducted a similar consultation meeting with residents of Wards 17 and 19 regarding their new cluster housing policy. At that time, the residents rejected the policy, arguing that the HCC must first upgrade existing infrastructure like sewer, water, and roads, as well as provide more social amenities, before approving new cluster developments.
However, the petitioners claim the HCC has continued to approve many new cluster developments in these wards without addressing the residents' previous concerns. The petitioners are therefore sceptical that the current consultative meeting is just a "tick-box exercise" and that the HCC will proceed with adopting and implementing the policy despite their objections.
The petition raises several key concerns among residents regarding the character of their suburbs. Petitioners express a strong desire for their low-density neighborhoods to remain intact and oppose being pushed into higher-density living areas. They argue that the City Council is aware of the city's existing burdens, emphasizing that the solution should not involve densifying current areas without first upgrading essential infrastructure.
Additionally, they highlight the inadequacy of existing infrastructure, noting that the current sewer, water, and road networks are already strained under the existing population. Frequent sewage issues, erratic water supply, and congested roads further illustrate the challenges they face.
Another significant concern is the depletion of groundwater resources, as residents worry that the increasing number of boreholes and development on wetlands is adversely affecting the water table, which many rely on for their daily needs.
Furthermore, the petitioners point out that current amenities, such as schools, clinics, and recreational facilities, are already overstretched and incapable of accommodating further population growth.
To address these pressing issues, the petitioners offer several recommendations. They urge the HCC to respect the preferences of residents who favor low-density living and to impose a moratorium on new cluster developments until infrastructure improvements are made. They also call for the establishment of clear guidelines for cluster developments, including minimum stand sizes and height restrictions, as well as increased scrutiny of change-of-use applications. Lastly, they emphasize the need for greater transparency by ensuring that change-of-use applications are widely advertised, allowing residents to stay informed and engaged in the decision-making process.
The petition reflects the residents' desire to have their concerns meaningfully addressed before the HCC proceeds with its cluster housing policy. You can read the petition here.
