Harare has halted demolitions of church structures erected on undesignated sites and will introduce temporary permits or leases for illegal church buildings in a bid to regulate their activities as well ensure compliance with the city’s by-laws.
In an interview, Environment Management Committee chairperson Councillor Herbert Gomba said the city would also send technical teams to visit cooperatives illegally occupying council land with a view to regularising them or evict the illegal settlers.
Harare wants worshipers to adhere to city by-laws that prohibit illegal structures. Acting corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme has urged churches to apply for stands.
He said council had vast land in residential areas and that church organisations that applied would benefit while those who continued to defy council by-laws would face the full wrath of the law.
The development comes at a time council is also reviewing the proposed Harare (Control of Worship in Open Spaces) By-Laws of 2015 which prohibit open space worshiping without its approval. This follows 22 objections raised by apostolic and Pentecostal churches.
However, the city is set to introduce the by-law with minor alterations after it rejected most of the objections.
According to recent minutes of the Environmental Management Committee, council received 22 objections from Pentecostal Apostolic Church, Johane Masowe-Chishanu Apostles, Central Fellowship Apostolic Church, Ebenezer Holy Church and the Council of Apostolic Church of Zimbabwe, among other sects.
- Herald
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