Source: Council to blacklist errant churches | Sunday Mail (Local News)
Veronica Gwaze
HARARE City Council is set to blacklist churches and Muslim Centres that owe the local authority at least $10 million in rentals and lease fees, Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba revealed.
The list of 200 include established churches among them Traditional, Pentecostal, Apostolic and Muslim Sects.
Speaking at the churches and council interface in the capital last week, Councillor Gomba said the debt is contributing to derailing the local authority’s efforts of attaining a world class city status by 2025.
He added that failure by the faith based organisations to meet their financial obligations disqualify them from being considered to purchase stands in the future.
“Churches owe the council US$10 million in rentals and lease fees, we will soon name and shame them and these churches will be blacklisted because something definitely need to be done,” he said.
The economic challenges bedevilling the country have not spared faith based organisations some of whom rely heavily on offerings and contributions from their members.
Despite the erosion of the value of money in their congregants pockets, faith based organisations which are considered under charitable institutions have found themselves heavy burdened by council rents.
This, however, has not derailed the sprouting of new assemblies around the city with some taking over open spaces in the CBD. This has also raised an outcry over noise pollution in the CBD and residential areas.
Councillor Gomba cautioned churches against noise pollution, illegal assembling, parking of vehicles in front of private properties among other distractions.
Contacted for a comment some churches on the list maintained that they will not pay rents because the council has not been delivering services.
Others argued that the council is charging them commercial rates for charity work they conduct.
Harare Town Planner, Mrs Priscilla Charumbira said religious entities are obliged to pay their rent and rates.
“Churches are saying we will not pay rent because we are failing to deliver proper services, while our argument is that we are failing to deliver because we do not have resources. People are not paying rentals.
“We have over 200 churches and the land cannot accommodate all of them hence there is need to revise the standards and try to accommodate them,” she said.
Mrs Charumbira said legally registered churches should adopt sound proofing systems and as well desist from pitching tents at any open space to conduct conferences or related activities.
She warned illegal churches from operating without licenses.
The municipality has also stipulated that churches should have four hour long or less services that should not end after 7pm.
“Religious gatherings that use electronic sound systems should sound proof their buildings and those that currently hold services at home areas should make sure that their services are four hours long or less and should finish before 7:30 pm.
Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association president, Bishop Christopher Choto religious entities are the light of the earth therefore should set a good examples.
“Eighty percent of the Zimbabwean population are Christians hence churches and council should support each other.
“We have churches drilling boreholes inside their premises and putting taps outside for the community to use.
“While yes it is noble, we are saying churches should pay rentals and acquire certificates of assembly to avoid problems with council,” he said.
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