'Illegal' Churches Get Reprieve

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.

"Pursuant to our engagement processes, council will soon introduce temporary permits or leases to all illegal churches in order to regulate their activities and ensure compliance to laws. This will be done as short-term measures while the processes of regularisation are being undertaken on those occupying land suitable for regularisation," said Clr Gomba.

"We will also send our technical teams to visit cooperatives, which illegally occupied council land in order to see how best council can deal with these problems, looking at the requirements of the law in the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, as read with council policy with the ultimate view of regularisation where possible and transfers where not possible," he said.

'Illegal' Churches Get Reprieve

In March the city demolished church structures erected on undesignated sites as authorities sought to end construction irregularities that have become rampant in the capital, thereby turning the city into an eyesore.

Harare wants worshippers 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 worshipping without its approval. This follows 22 objections raised by apostolic and Pentecostal chur- ches.

However, the city is set to introduce the by-law with minor alterations after it rejected most of the objections.

Under the new Harare (Control of Worship in Open Spaces) By-Laws 2015 the city wanted to prohibit open space worshipping without council approval by way of a permit issued by council.

The new by-laws require public worship places to have ablution facilities and potable water. The facilities are supposed to be inspected first by an environmental health officer in terms of the Public Health Act and other health by-laws.

The new laws require a person to submit an application through the environmental health officer before conducting open air worship. Council has the discretion to approve or decline such an application having taken into consideration the Public Health Act.

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.