The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
COWDRAY park councillor, Collet Ndhlovu was has been given the consent by the local authority to turn a sports bar into a night club despite owing the Bulawayo City Council more than $6 000 and the premises are “too close” to residential houses.
Clr Ndhlovu, who had initially got the stand in his ward to operate a sports bar had attracted hawks eye from the Government after it was noted that he had been offered eight bays which in terms of Bulawayo standards is a whole shopping complex enough to accommodate two mainstream supermarkets since they usually allocate four bays for such a supermarket.
However, according to the latest council report, despite having failed to pay $6 800 in rates for the sports bar, councillors passed a resolution for Clr Ndhlovu to turn his facility into a full-fledged night club.
Councillors ignored advice from council management not to grant the consent because of the debt and the fact that the proposed night club could cause problems to residents.
The councillors instead sided with their colleague and passed the motion which will see him now left with applying for a special consent for the establishment of the night club.
“The proximity of the proposed night club to the residential houses is of concern, being at least 30 metres from the nearest residential house. Night clubs are generally considered as generator of high volumes of noise and traffic which would inconvenience surrounding residents. In light of the above, the application is not supported.
“It was also noted that the property is owing Council $6 800 in rates, an amount which an arrangement should be made to clear it.
“From a town planning point of view, the night club on this property will be viewed as highly obtrusive due to its proximity to residential property and its location being in a residential shopping centre. The premises are operating a sports bar with a development permit,” reads part of the management’s report.
However, the councillors ignored the advice and passed the motion in favour of Clr Ndhlovu without any debate.
In justifying the need for turning the sports bar into a night club, Clr Ndhlovu noted that the proliferation of shebeens in the suburb showed that people were desperate for a legal place to consume alcohol.
“Cowdray Park has close to 35 000 households and is set quite a distance apart from the other suburbs so the establishment of this night club will come as a welcome relief to residents since it will be a first of its kind.
Presently, if one has a visitor who would like to go out for a drink in the late hours of the night they will be forced to either go to a shebeen, or commute to the city centre.
“The proliferation of shebeens and public drinking are also signs of demand, which is not catered for. Our aim of the application is to provide a convenient facility for mature and decent residents who want to have a quiet drink after a long day or want to socialise in a relaxed atmosphere on the weekend.
The element of public drinking shall therefore be removed by the provision of a legal alternative,” said Clr Ndhlovu.
According to council documents, ever since his appointment as councillor, Clr Ndhlovu has also managed to get a lease for a plot Helensvale for urban agriculture measuring 6929 square metres allocated on the 3/09/2014 – Stand number 25421, Cowdray Park. He also got a lease for stand number 25633 Cowdray Park measuring 2,65 hectares also for urban agriculture purposes.
