A Chinese company has demolished a wall built over disused railway tracks in Harare after city officials declared the structure illegal.
The company, which recently acquired property at 44 Tilbury Road, next to Masimba Holdings’ headquarters, constructed the wall for added security.
However, the wall crossed old railway lines, sparking public criticism and prompting a response from the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
The NRZ clarified that the tracks were part of a disused, privately-owned siding leading to a now-defunct factory being demolished following the property’s purchase by the Chinese company last year. It added:
They built the security wall to prevent thieves from accessing their newly acquired property. So, effectively, the NRZ does not have any mandate over the disused line but understands that the City of Harare is looking into the matter.
On Tuesday, workers began demolishing part of the wall built over the railway tracks.
It’s unclear who gave the order, but Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said on Monday that the wall was constructed without council approval.
According to Mafume, the city’s Development Control Team visited the Chinese property owner, who believed it was acceptable to build across the tracks since the NRZ had not objected. He said:
The council explained that all boundary walls need official approval. The wall or part of it that is too close to the railway line must be taken down.
More: ZimLive
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