SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
The Mutare City Council has issued a stern warning to churches, liquor selling outlets, street vendors, over playing loud musical instruments and advertising, in the city.
It comes after residents raised the red flag on the continued noise pollution that is being experienced in the city centre and residential areas.
The City said there have been complaints made to council over noise in the city particularly with regards to that made by merchandisers and others who resort to advertising using loud speakers and other musical instruments in the central business district and other surrounding areas.
“May it be noted the said activities are regulated by the Mutare Noise By-laws which in Section 4 states that no person shall operate or cause or permit to the operation, any wireless, loud speaker, gramophone, record-player, amplifier, musical instrument, or similar device so as to disturb or interfere with the rest, peace or tranquillity of the public or any section of the public,” the local authority said.
“No person shall operate, or cause or permit to be operated for the purpose of attracting customers or indicating the presence of vendors in the neighbourhood, any wireless, loudspeakers, gramophone, record player, amplifier, musical instrument or similar device in or adjacent to any public street, without the prior written consent of the council.”
The council said residents are therefore urged to desist forthwith from conducting unauthorised actions as they disturb peace and tranquillity of the public and other business operators.
“Those who wish to partake in any form of advertising using the above mentioned gadgets should first seek permission from Council,” the council advised.
Apart from noise from the merchandisers, some residents have also raised concern over some church denominations that hold all night vigils playing trumpets, drums, and electric guitars in residential areas disturbing their peace.
Others have bemoaned the council issuing liquor licences to operate bottle stores close to neighbourhood where musical bands are hired to perform all night gigs.
Edson Dube of the United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers’ Trust said noise pollution in residential areas has to be regulated particularly at night.
“While the Council seems to be trying to enforce the law, there appears to be a half-hearted approach to this problem. We have had to live with this challenge for a very long time, while the law that outlaws such a misdemeanour existed. It is not like a new city by-law that has come into place and is being activated.
“We see a local authority that is reactive and not proactive to situations that prevail in communities,” Dube told Business Times.
As the country is struggling economically, businesses are engaging in ‘unorthodox’ means of attracting and wooing customers into their shops through use of loudspeakers and howlers positioned along pavements and streets outside their businesses advertising their services and goods.
