Chinese businessman up in arms with his Greystone Park neighbours
Residents lament over the businessman's attempt to turn the leafy surburb into an industrial area
Harare – A Chinese businessman, Yang Pingyue is up in arms with his neighbours in the plush suburb of Greystone Park after he built a warehouse on his house in complete negation of council by laws, Express Mail Zim can report.
Yang, the owner and resident of number 2 Lemmington Road, Greystone Park suburb constructed a warehouse that he intends to use as a showroom for his products from China but residents in the suburb are against the development.
Yang appeared before a Commission of inquiry that is investigating the operations of Harare City Council since 2017, where he said he applied to the municipality to regularize operating a business in the residential area.
“In China one can turn his house into a business premise ,” Yang told the commission led by Justice Maphios Cheda.
Yang said he did not know it was illegal to do so in Harare and he was reminded that ignorance of the law is not defence.
The commission heard that Yang has applied to the city council to run his business at his house that he bought in 2023.
Yang who was accompanied by his employee and interpretor, Leon Tinotenda Vheremu said he does not intend to build a factory but a showroom for Chinese products for customers to see and make online purchases.
“It is a showroom where people come and see the products and buy products online from China,” Yang said through his interpretor Vheremu.
The commission of inquiry had to allow Vheremu to use a mobile phone application to translate to Yang after the Chinese man failed to understand the interpretation.
The commission also heard that some of Yang’s neighbours had opposed the construction of the showroom citing that Greystone Park was a residential area and not an industrial area.
The council is yet to make a determination to allow or deny Yang from operating his business at his residential property.
The commission of inquiry this week heard that HCC is receiving many applications of illegal actions on council land that are being regularized despite complaints by residents that this perpetuates illegal activities in the city.
Zimbabwe has seen an influx of Chinese nationals involved in various businesses ranging from mining, agriculture, transport and retail.
