LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has filed papers in response to an application by Bulawayo residents who are challenging Government’s decision to rename some of the city’s street names as contained in Statutory Instrument 167/20.
In terms of SI 167/20, Minister Moyo announced a number of street name changes in the country’s major cities, a development that saw a number of the nation’s heroes both living and dead being honoured.
However, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) through their lawyers Job Sibanda and Associates, approached the High Court in Bulawayo challenging Minister Moyo’s approval of street name changes as contained in S1 167/20 under Names (Alterations) (Amendment of Schedule) Notice.
They cited Minister Moyo and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) as respondents.
The SI, in its preamble, states that in exercising his powers under section 4(1) of the Alteration of Names Act (Chapter10:14) (hereinafter called “the enabling Act”) Minister Moyo issued a notice altering the names of certain street names by amending Part VII of the Act by the repeal of certain names of roads and substituting them with those in the amended schedule.
The residents want the court to declare SI 167/20 and the resultant renaming of the streets in Bulawayo, a nullity, arguing it was in violation of some provisions of the Urban Councils Act.
Minister Moyo, through the Civil Division in the Attorney General’s Office, filed a notice of opposition at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the application.
In his opposing affidavit, Minister Moyo argued that proper procedures and consultations were done before the implementation of renaming of streets as per Cabinet directive.
“The Cabinet at its 41th meeting discussed the issue of change of streets names within various local authorities countrywide.
Section 4(2) of the Names Alteration Act provided that the Minister shall not alter the name of any public building, road or street except after consultation with the person in whom the ownership or control of the building, road or street is vested,” he said.-Chronicle