By Rex Mphisa
A contractor hired to build a house belonging to one Elizabeth Manyenga in Beitbridge’s low density suburb has invaded a neighbouring Ministry of Health stand and completely destroyed its perimeter fence, cut down trees and thrown debris and waste material in the occupied yard.
The builders putting up a huge house believed to be a lodge have not even complied with low density building requirements and erected their structure less than a metre from the perimeter fence in total disregard of standing laws of requisite distances.
Shocked poor occupants of the government house have been bullied into quietness as they can only watch helplessly as the massive one storey building invades their privacy from its first floor rooms that overlook their small house.
It is not clear if the Municipality of Beitbridge has been inspecting stages of the massive structure on Hill Close that appears to have broken all municipal buildings boundaries in construction.
Town clerk Loud Ramakgapola said he was checking with his engineering department but had not responded by the time of going to print.
“Checking with our Planner,” Ramakgapola said in a brief response to questions.
An official of the Ministry of National Housing said Government attention had been brought after the contractors bullied Health staff at their house and went on building their structure and throwing debris with reckless abandon.
“We have notified our ministry and we have also alerted the Forestry Commission and the Municipality of Beitbridge about the trees that were brought down by the invaders. They destroyed the fence on the side of the stand next to their huge building and they have littered the entire side of the yard.
A female occupant of the Ministry of Health and Child Care tied house refused to comment and said she would only watch and wait for the “eviction notice”.
“So far we have not received any,” she said.
Builders on the site where the huge structure under construction referred all question to a Mr Chezhira who in turn referred questions to Keith Panashe Chikwana.
Chikwana switched off his phone on the second call.
In a low density residential area in Zimbabwe, the standard municipal building lines require the main building to be 5 metres from the front boundary (facing the road) and 3 metres from all other boundaries (sides and rear).
Although generally, a person cannot legally build a new house or structural addition without prior municipal planning approval, local authorities there should be setback compliance, and neighbour notifications or comments before construction of any house likely to infringe of the privacy of neighbours.