Source: ‘Rapid rise of service stations linked to urban expansion’ – herald
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
More than 600 fuel service stations are operating in Harare, raising concerns over proliferation, land‑use changes and regulatory gaps in the fast‑growing sector.
EMA director of Environmental Management Services, Mr Steady Kangata, presented the figures while giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.
The agency said the rapid increase reflected both historic developments and new investments driven by demand and urban expansion.
“Our records, Chair, are indicating that in Harare we have over 550 service stations, and the list that we have given you is also a conservative list, where it is 594 service stations that were certified by EMA.
“It is getting to 600 — yes, 602 — and again that number is a fluid number.”
Mr Kangata said the growth in service stations must be understood in the context of planning frameworks and historical land‑use changes that have reshaped urban zones.
He said some areas now hosting service stations were previously designated as residential, creating public‑perception challenges.
“We always have had the proper zoning before, probably through a land‑use change, which is why we now have issues with residential areas.
“When people see these developments, they do not see a commercial use, but we have the right zoning and planned areas in terms of master and development plans.”
He further told the Committee that the regulation of fuel service stations falls under Statutory Instrument 268 of 2018, which governs hazardous substances.
The law provides for licencing covering the importation, transportation, storage and sale of fuels, making it mandatory for operators to comply.
EMA plays a monitoring and enforcement role to ensure adherence to environmental and safety standards.
“In SI 268 of 2018, there is a provision for hazardous substances licensing, which is a legal requirement for service stations.
“You might have set up, but we come in through other licences to check and monitor operations.”
Mr Kangata said about 400 of the service stations in Harare have undergone the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process since EMA began implementing it in January 2007.
The remainder, he said, were established before the enactment of the Environmental Management Act and are handled under a “prior‑date” system.
“From 2007, when the EIA policy kicked in, about 400 service stations have gone through that process.
“The others may have been operating before the Act, but they are not immune to other licensing requirements, and we maintain checks and balances.”
The agency also revealed that at least 10 service stations have been established in areas previously zoned for residential use following approved changes in development plans.
These include sites in areas such as Belgravia and along major roads, where urban transformation has accelerated commercial activity.
“In Harare, we have 10 service stations that were established in previously residential areas due to land‑use changes.
“Each service station is treated as a project with its own documentation from start to finish under the EIA process.”
EMA indicated that it has rejected a number of applications deemed unsuitable due to environmental or spatial concerns.
It said some proposed sites were too small, located in wetlands or in densely populated areas, making them non‑compliant with regulatory standards.
“We have rejected some applications, including those in wetlands and crowded areas where the minimum requirements are not met. We also patrol, inspect and enforce penalties to ensure compliance.”
Mr Kangata said the absence of clear thresholds on the number of service stations allowed within a given area is a major policy gap.
He said this has resulted in over‑trading, with too many operators concentrated in certain locations.
“The issue of thresholds is currently silent, and that silence has led to over‑trading.
“If you reduce the fees for land‑use change, you are likely to see more of these commercial activities in residential areas,” he said.
Appearing before the same Committee, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the city had received numerous complaints from residents over the increasing number of service stations.
He described the matter as complex, involving multiple regulatory bodies such as local authorities and national agencies.
“We received complaints on the proliferation of service stations, and the process of establishing one involves many institutions.
“At some point, we banned the issuance of service stations until stakeholders could come up with a consolidated policy framework.”
Mayor Mafume said the Government later introduced a moratorium on planning approvals, requiring developers to obtain waivers before proceeding with projects.
“The moratorium meant that any planning issues had to go through a waiver at the ministry.
“That system can take us back to the same challenges because it is discretionary, and we still need a proper framework.
“There is now an international norm of mobile service stations, which presents a new policy dilemma.
“People are attempting to operate them even in areas like extensions, which traditionally lack infrastructure,” he said.
Mayor Mafume added that Harare’s growth along development corridors such as Samora Machel Avenue, Lomagundi Road and Enterprise Road has accelerated commercial transformation.
He said areas once considered residential are being reclassified to support economic activity, including fuel retail.
“Once areas are designated as development corridors, they are no longer purely residential, and investors move in.
“You will find that people rush to establish service stations because they are more lucrative than other developments,” he said.
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