THE Marondera Municipality has blamed the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) for leading the chaos along the railway line servitude in the farming town through allocating spaces to traders without its recommendations.
According to latest full council minutes in possession of NewsDay Weekender, both council and Marondera district development co-ordinator (DDC) ClemenceMasawi concurred that it is high time to engage the NRZ to stop allocating trading spaces along the railway servitude.
“Cllr Chipashu raised concerns about the illegal and uncontrolled developments taking place along the railway servitude,” part of the minutes read.
“The town clerk [Rinashe Nyamuzihwa] concurred with Cllr Chipashu that the developments were not up to standardand were not pleasing.
“He explained that a meeting with NRZ would be arranged. He added that a letter to register council’s displeasure regarding the developments would be sent to NRZ, and copied to the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East province."
It was revealed in the meeting that the local authority has since informed the Local Government ministry’s permanent secretary who is reportedly seized with the matter.
The railway line servitude in Marondera is currently under siege from space barons who are reportedly paying rentals to a few individuals from the NRZ.
Marondera council has since distanced itself from the current invasions along the railway line.
Council said the parent ministry is in the process of engaging NRZ to deal with the issue.
“The permanent secretary also wrote a complaint letter to NRZ regarding the developments, as well as directing them to stop allocating stands along the railway servitude,” the minutesread.
Council also bemoaned rampant defecation along the railway line as the majority of erected structures do not have ablution facilities.
“The house registered displeasure regarding the illegal developments along the railway servitude.
“It was noted that most of the buildings had no ablution facilities, and there was open defecation, which was a public health time bomb. It was also noted that the best approach to address the issue was to engage NRZ.
“The DDC concurred that dialogue was the way to go.
“He explained that previously, NRZ had been engaged over the same issues and an agreement had been reached to stop allocations, but they have continued with the allocations, without council guidance.
“Thus, council needs to start enforcing its by-laws to bring sanity and order to town.”