By Lynette Manzini
Ward 17 residents may finally get relief from noise pollution after concerns about late-night events at local sports clubs were addressed in a council meeting last Tuesday.
After Mayor Jacob Mafume had finished reading the circular stopping the change of land use for 90 days, Councillor Happymore Gotora raised the issue of noise pollution by nightclubs and sports clubs in his area.
“What are we going to do as council? We have some places we issued change of use, for example, some people who are operating some nightclubs and pubs within residential places which are making a lot of noise in the night.
‘And also clubs such as Old Hararians and Belgravia Sports Clubs and so forth that are making a lot of noise, in terms of strengthening our development control, what are we going to do as a council to strengthen this so that we can be able to enforce order in our area?” asked Gotora.
For some time now, residents in suburbs such as Avondale Central, Avondale West, Kensington, and Belgravia have endured sleepless nights, especially during weekends and holidays, as a result of loud music functions hosted by nightclubs, a shebeen, and sports clubs.
Although the residents have complained to the councillor, council officials, and the police, and succeeded in a few cases to shut down the events early, noise pollution has continued unabated in the locality.
The recent complaint from the residents emanated from the Ndini Mukudzeyi album launch by local musician Jah Prayzah held at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare.
Ward 17 residents registered their complaints to the councillor in the Ward 17 Residents WhatsApp group.
“1.44am O.H still going. Don’t we have rights anymore to silence?” posted one resident in the group.
“We are struggling to sleep,” posted another resident.
“Sleep was impossible last night. The noise went on until 03:00hrs,” another resident complained.
However, during the full council meeting held last Tuesday, Mayor Mafume agreed that the noise from nightclubs and churches in the suburbs should be dealt with.
“We cannot develop a country by making everyone drink beer everywhere.
“I do not understand this proliferation of drinking places as if somebody sees making people drunk as a key economic activity.
“It is not, and therefore the noises that are associated with such behaviours must be stopped,” he said.
Mayor Mafume further added that there was need to meet with show promoters and agree on the best way forward to ensure that other people’s entertainment does not compromise the peace and quiet of others.
This issue does not affect Ward 17 residents alone but residents in other wards with nightclubs and sports clubs.
