SPORTS BAR PANDEMIC: Western suburbs under siege from noise, crime and filth

Mthokozisi Ncube and Lubelihle MoyoBULAWAYO’S western suburbs are crying out for help as a new menace takes root — a “pandemic worse than Covid-19,” residents say. Sports bars are sprouting like mushrooms across neighbourhoods, bringing with them an avalanche of noise, crime and moral decay.Residents describe these establishments as ticking time bombs that have turned their once quiet communities into 24-hour party zones. The music blares so loudly that it can be heard five kilometres away, shaking windows and rattling nerves.

Drunken fights erupt in the streets while sex workers openly ply their trade in full view of children.“It is chaos every weekend,” said a furious Babongile Moyo (47) of Luveve. “I was selling my house because I am relocating to Australia. A serious buyer came to view the property, but he ran away when he heard the loud music.

He said he would never live in such a place. Now, other buyers are offering peanuts. These sports bars are destroying our investments and our peace of mind.

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The city council must protect us because we are ratepayers.”Others say the crime wave linked to these bars is unbearable. Moyomuhle Moyo from Tshabalala recalled the night thieves struck her home while she and her family were awake — yet heard nothing because of the deafening music.“It was almost midnight. We were sitting in the kitchen with relatives visiting from Botswana.

My son went into the living room and discovered our 55-inch TV was gone. The thieves had broken two large window panes, and we didn’t hear a thing because the sports bars were blasting music so loud. The police and council are failing us by letting these places operate in residential areas,” she fumed.Another woman, who once lived in Emakhandeni, said she was forced to move because the noise was so intense that her autistic five-year-old twins could not function.

“They would cry nonstop, cover their ears and couldn’t sleep. It was like torture,” she said.For Bongani Mpofu of Gwabalanda, the situation was so bad that he relocated his elderly, sick father to Mzilikazi. “The man couldn’t sleep at all.

The music was like living next to a nightclub that never closes,” he said.The problems go beyond noise. Residents complain of the stench of urine around shopping centres as drunken patrons relieve themselves anywhere.Cowdray Park vendor Nyasha Chibamu said her business is suffering. “I cannot sell until late because fights break out near my stall.

Drunk people, some suspected omakorokoza, rob us and destroy our goods. These sports bars are a curse to us,” she said.The residents believe the bars are flouting all rules. According to Section 80 of the Environmental Management Act Chapter 20:27, no person shall emit noise that unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort, or health of others.

It provides a fine not exceeding level 14 (US$5 000) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.Yet these sports bars play music through massive outdoor speakers, even when council and national regulations clearly prohibit it.Some residents fear reporting the violations. “When we complain, the owners target us,” said Sithabile Ncube of Nkulumane. “We believe some owners bribe the police to stay open.”B-Metro spoke to a sports bar owner in Lobengula at High Point.

He denied everything, even though residents claim they can hear his music from a five-kilometre radius. “I do not know anything about this, I will not respond, I do not have any complaints”, he said.The Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) confirmed the complaints. “The blame lies with the city council, which issues the licences,” said chairperson Winos Dube.

“Residents must continue reporting, petitioning and documenting these violations. The law is clear — permits can be revoked when there are valid complaints.”Bulawayo City Council corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu confirmed that sports bars are supposed to operate under strict conditions. “Music and live bands are prohibited both inside and outside these establishments,” she told B-Metro.

“Residents should report violations to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who will liaise with the Director of Health Services. If necessary, the Liquor Board can cancel the licences.”Residents say enforcement is non-existent. “Every weekend, the music starts at sunset and goes until dawn.

No one comes to stop it. Sometimes it plays right through the week,” said another Nkulumane resident.Community leaders are now urging residents to unite. “Petition council, document every violation and call the police every time.

If we stay silent, these sports bars will destroy our neighbourhoods,” said Dube.For now, the residents remain under siege, their children exposed to drunkenness and public sex acts. “Our communities are rotting,” said a church leader from Lobengula. “If something is not done, we will lose our children, our homes and our sanity.”Pastor Nyasha Chimedza from ZAOGA Forward In Faith Church Lobengula observed that the city council often gives licences to sports bars, around places where churches are located, making it difficult to hold all-night services.“We even have to reschedule important events in the church calendar, like Easter all-night services as the noise from sports bars make it impossible to worship,” said a church leader who declined to be named, fearing victimisation.Leave a ReplyCancel reply Mthokozisi Ncube and Lubelihle MoyoBULAWAYO’S western suburbs are crying out for help as a new menace takes root — a “pandemic worse than Covid-19,” residents say.

“If something is not done, we will lose our children, our homes and our sanity.”Pastor Nyasha Chimedza from ZAOGA Forward In Faith Church Lobengula observed that the city council often gives licences to sports bars, around places where churches are located, making it difficult to hold all-night services.“We even have to reschedule important events in the church calendar, like Easter all-night services as the noise from sports bars make it impossible to worship,” said a church leader who declined to be named, fearing victimisation. BULAWAYO’S western suburbs are crying out for help as a new menace takes root — a “pandemic worse than Covid-19,” residents say. Sports bars are sprouting like mushrooms across neighbourhoods, bringing with them an avalanche of noise, crime and moral decay.

Residents describe these establishments as ticking time bombs that have turned their once quiet communities into 24-hour party zones. Drunken fights erupt in the streets while sex workers openly ply their trade in full view of children. “It is chaos every weekend,” said a furious Babongile Moyo (47) of Luveve.

The city council must protect us because we are ratepayers.” Others say the crime wave linked to these bars is unbearable. Moyomuhle Moyo from Tshabalala recalled the night thieves struck her home while she and her family were awake — yet heard nothing because of the deafening music. “It was almost midnight.

The police and council are failing us by letting these places operate in residential areas,” she fumed. Another woman, who once lived in Emakhandeni, said she was forced to move because the noise was so intense that her autistic five-year-old twins could not function. It was like torture,” she said.

For Bongani Mpofu of Gwabalanda, the situation was so bad that he relocated his elderly, sick father to Mzilikazi. The music was like living next to a nightclub that never closes,” he said. The problems go beyond noise. Residents complain of the stench of urine around shopping centres as drunken patrons relieve themselves anywhere.

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