Eyesore warehouse angers leafy suburb residents
Staff Writer | Thursday June 26, 2014 14:26
The residents are complaining that their Chinese neighbours have built a warehouse, against the City Council regulations, but officials at the local authority are unable to take action.
The Extension Five area is home to the State House, the retired president Sir Ketumile Masire’s office and is one of Gaborone’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. According to the ward Village Development Committee chairperson, Potlako Molefhe, the construction of the warehouse on Tawana Close was done in a space of three weeks.
He said he did not receive any response when he approached GCC officials. In a subsequent letter to Council principal physical planner, Obabonye Baemisi, Molefhe enquired whether an environmental impact assessment had been conducted prior to the structure’s construction.
He said his Chinese neighbours told him the warehouse was for recreational activities. “Please acknowledge and report back what action is contemplated or taken by the relevant department. This is the second time of reporting,” Molefhe’s letter of May 2, 2014 reads.
However, by this week, the City Council had not responded. Mmegi’s efforts to locate the house’s occupants were futile while the Council’s public relations office was equally unavailable to respond to enquiries.