The residents say they recently woke up to find some men putting up a fence around the park donated to them by a well-wisher.“A team of men recently fenced off the park and put razor wire at the top of the fence,” one resident said. “They are now clearing the area between the park and the roads.“They told us they were contracted by Philip Chiyangwa and we are not happy about this because that park was given to us and we are in the process of getting custodianship for it.”Apart from the fact that the park is set aside for recreational purposes and was given to the residents by the Ballantyne family, environmentally conscious residents have said it is a wetland and therefore should not be tampered with.“After the residents came to me with their concerns, I spoke to Chiyangwa and found out that the park could be part of the land transactions done before the current council came into office,” area councillor Peter Mudavanhu said.“Council agrees that the park should be in the residents’ custody and as councillor for the area I insist that place should remain as a recreational area.“I have since suggested that alternative land be found to replace Chiyangwa’s land.”The matter was briefly discussed at a full council meeting on Thursday, with councillor Sasha Jogi indicating he had seen men working around the park and was wondering what could be happening.Masunda indicated that he had been assured by council officials that nothing sinister was happening.Chiyangwa scoffed at the protests by residents saying he was doing them a favour by keeping the area clean.“The fence which was there was very old and the bushes had grown thick, providing criminals with hiding places.“Besides, I have nine expensive houses and several other properties around that area and I could not allow my children to be exposed to some of the vices which were now taking root because of that place’s state of neglect.“Some people were having sex in that park and throwing around used condoms.“It was very dirty I tell you. I am just doing what any citizen would do and I do not need to consult anyone because I am using my money. I have no hidden agenda, I am just helping out that’s all.”Minutes tabled before council by the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee indicate that the committee once granted a company called Freshpro (Pvt) Ltd authority to maintain the park but the deal flopped as the residents protested over being left out and expressed the wish to be in the forefront in the development of the park.
