Bulawayo City Councilors have raised concerns on the rise of open air worshippers who are illegally occupying council land and stray animals who are causing a menace.
This concern was expressed in the recent council minutes on the report provided by the Environmental Management and Engineering Service Committee.
The Councilors said the mushrooming of open air worshippers was of great concern around Greater Bulawayo.
They also added that under Livestock Control, donkeys were seen all over the city and attributed that to transport shortages.
“Livestock kept at Luveve Gum Plantation had no water due to water shedding,” read the council minutes.
Concerned about open air worship, Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu stated the worshippers had not been removed despite many requests that they be removed from the bushes.
Meanwhile, Ward 5 councillor Dumisani Nkomo also raised concern on lack of enforcement of by-laws at Hillside Dams.
“People had redirected water courses and created their own side dams at Hillside Dams,” Nkomo said.
Furthermore, Ward 12 councillor Muziwakibo Masuku asked for clarification on how the rangers could address the issue of gold panners who were destroying the environment and interfering with the flow of water in catchment areas.
Sand poachers were on the rise, according to Councillor Ndlovu, and it was critical to adequately enforce bylaws and make arrests as needed.
“Stray horses had been seen roaming around the western areas without their owners. What was the Department’s plan regarding the removal of the horses.”
The Assistant Director of Housing and Community Services responded that open air worshippers had been engaged and that a thorough report on the research will be submitted.
“ The research was made to establish environmental issues and church requirements. A Clean up of the worship sites had been undertaken but with no time they returned the illegal sites. The identity or leaders of the churches were yet to be established,” read the report.
The Assistant Director of Housing and Community Services also said the Hillside Dams issue had been noted and would be investigated.
“Water Catchment areas were a priority. There were full time Rangers stationed in catchment areas and arrests were being made. Regularly they were joint operations including Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Environmental Management Agency and BCC. Outside catchment areas thus where most illegal gold panners were operating from. Gold panners who were issued claims by the Ministry of Mines to operate outside the catchment areas abused their claims and encroached on the dams.”
Meanwhile, the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Services stated that stray animals must be reported to the relevant department in order for them to take note of their presence in particular areas.
“Of late monkeys had been a menace and Council was working with the department of Parks and Wildlife management to get rid of them.”
He said sand poachers should be reported immediately while on site as Council Rangers and Officers were readily accessible to attend to such issues even during weekends and public holidays.
