By Correspondent
In recent years, Harare Council has closed down several golf clubs, most of which are situated on well-known wetlands.
These have been handed over to land developers to turn the land into stands for sale despite protests by residents.
We have compiled a list of the most famous ones, which Harare has converted into stands against the wishes of residents.
Warren Hills Golf Course
While some residents were agitating for the Council to rehabilitate and spruce up the golf course, Harare was advancing with other plans.
It joined hands with Ken Sharpe’s Westprop to develop a new mid-use luxury estate.
Under the project, WestProp has partnered with the City of Harare on the development, estimated to cost US$280 million and includes 862 home sites.
“The Hills Luxury Golf Estate is part of our vision to develop premium gated communities in Zimbabwe,” said Ken Sharpe, CEO of WestProp Holdings.
“The project has faced challenges typical of large-scale developments; however, the delays have allowed us to perfect the estate design and bring out a development that we had not imagined 14 years ago.
“We are working well with the authorities to get the necessary approvals and support.”
However, despite this effusive joy by Sharpe, the project has been seen as a betrayal by Harare residents.
The issue opened a can of worms and was once investigated by the ZACC.
Preliminary results pointed to unprocedural and irregular disposal of the reserved land to Sharpe’s company.
To its credit, WestProp has been undertaking an afforestation initiative.
This includes planting over 2,000 indigenous trees as well as a wetlands rehabilitation project that has already led to the return of fish and birdlife.
Sherwood Golf Club
Residents from Malbereign expressed shock after Council approved the decision to turn Sherwood into residential stands.
The recreational facility had been under threat from land barons who wanted to parcel out residential stands since 2018.
Councillor for the Ward Denford Ngadziore said there was little they could do to stop the project.
“I have no objection as long as there is contribution and input from the residents.
“I am shocked that people were given an offer letter.
“However, I am not surprised because there is serious political interference in this ward,
Harare City Council, through the Town Planner, said the concept of garden cities has outlived its lifespan.
Together with Warren Hills, Sherwood was established on land deemed unsuitable for building and was zoned for recreation.
In 2022, a Council committee set to endorse the deal was abandoned following disputes between councillors.
This betrayed the knowledge within the Council that the deal was rogue.
Sherwood, which is a wetland, was the major golf course for the Mabelreign and Meyrick Park areas.
It was active in years gone by, but lately its fencing and other amenities were vandalised in the 2000s.
Mt Pleasant Club
The shocking sale of Mt Pleasant ultimately led to the High Court instituting a regulation that the Council shouldn’t directly sell land to companies and individuals.
The illegal deal was brokered by now jailed former Finance Director Stanley Ndemera and Chamber Secretary Charles Kandemiri.
The two officials were jailed for an effective six-year term.
The actual sale of the sports club, while it was a direct sale, was wrongful since the sales procedure had not started with a request from the potential buyer.
This is a laid-down requirement, and that allowed the guilty verdict.
The Mount Pleasant Sports Club (MPS) had been leasing the land and protecting the wetland since 1961.
MPS Vice chairperson Mr Phillip Sewera said they had a 10-year lease agreement with the local authority.
They were shocked to see the land being partitioned into residential stands.
“So, in relation to the developments we strongly oppose and cite breach of the standing lease.
“The club has secured funds for sports development that will allow community recreation and protection of the land.”
Another resident, Mr Mark Bird, thought it might be too late to stop the conversion as the council has already sold some stands.
“It may be too late.
“City of Harare has sold 14 stands on what is the municipal Mount Pleasant Golf Course, on which the club has a 99-year lease with 17 years remaining.
“I am quite sure this was always intended as a greenbelt or wetland,” he said.
