Council seeks to address abandoned vehicles problem

Source: The Chronicle – Breaking news

Scrap vehicles have become an eyesore in Victoria Falls

Leonard Ncube, leonard.ncube@chronicle.co.zw

VICTORIA Falls City Council has noted with concern the heavy presence of vehicle wrecks and scrap metal from cars abandoned on road side, business centres and backyard garages, which threaten the ambiance of the resort city.

It has become almost a norm in the city for vehicle owners to dump vehicle wrecks on roadsides, buffer zones and near business centres while some backyard garages have sprouted in the high density areas where some mechanics fix cars in yards.

Sometimes a full car wreck can be found abandoned on the roadside, putting not only lives of motorists in danger, but also children who risk being injured while playing on the wrecks.

Victoria Falls is a world-acclaimed World Heritage Site, which according to the UNESCO should be kept in its pristine state for the sake of harmony between humans and nature.The city is crafting a masterplan, in which it seeks to become a green tourism destination with a friendly environment.

Armed with its by-laws, the city by-laws and Statutory Instrument 141 of 2009 (Victoria Falls Municipality Road Traffic Clamping Offences, the local authority has given owners of abandoned vehicles, wrecks and other scrap metal a seven-day ultimatum that lapses at the end of this week to clear the vehicles or face penalties.

The council said scrap cars can harbour pests and collect stagnant water and leak harmful substances into the ground hence they are an environmental hazard. In a statement, Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube said the council will tow away all abandoned vehicles and owners will only reclaim them after payment of a fine.

“The City of Victoria Falls seeks to address the problem of abandoned vehicles accumulating in open spaces such as Busi Shopping Centre and Moringa Shopping Centre, which has become an eyesore and environmental concern,” he said.“Residents are hereby given seven days’ notice to remove any abandoned scrap vehicles from open spaces, vacant lots and roadsides.

“ After the seven day period, the council will tow away all remaining abandoned cars and scrap vehicles. “Owners can retrieve their vehicles from the council impound lot after paying a fine and collection fee in terms of Section 9 of SI 141/2009. Let us all work together to keep our city clean, green and safe for all,” said Mr Dube.

In a follow up interview, the city’s Chamber Secretary, Ms Kholwani Mangena, said the city is using the power of by-laws from where the Victoria Falls Municipality Road Traffic Clamping Offences are listed.

She said those operating backyard garages and doing illegal operations are violating Section Four of the Shop Licences Act 14,17 (Control of Trades and Businesses).“They should take them to scrape yards or to our dumpsite because these cars are being used for illegal activities and have become breeding places for mosquitoes and rodents,” said Ms Mangena.

“Those that operate in houses who have failed to change use from residential to commercial are breaking the law. “We will invoke the provisions of Regional Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 29.12 to deal with them.” The Environmental Management Agency has over the years also encouraged citizens to correctly dispose of unwanted items including scrap metal.Some environmentalists encourage putting scrap metal in deep gullies as a way of reclaiming the land.