Garden owners challenge BCC

Owners of outdoor event venues in Blantyre have obtained a court injunction against the Blantyre City Council (BCC) over its recent ban on holding of events in residential areas.

In a Stop And Abate Nuisance notice dated April 19 2015 addressed to residents of the city, BCC banned the holding of wedding receptions, engagement ceremonies, bridal showers and other public events in residential areas citing both the Town and Country Planning Act and the Local Government Act respectively.

Spokesperson of the outdoor events venue owners, Shemu Joyah, said they had obtained the injunction because the notice was abrupt and did not give them time to cancel bookings.

“The High Court of Malawi ruled on June 4  2015 for the continuation of the Order of Injunction against the implementation of the stop notices by the Blantyre City Council until the case for judicial review has been heard between the parties and disposed of through determination by the court.

Said Joyah: “Therefore, the garden operators would wish to inform the general public that the functions at their gardens will continue until such a time as the court will determine otherwise.”

BCC spokesperson Anthony Kasunda confirmed the development, saying: “There is indeed an injunction that has been obtained by some garden owners and the matter is pending judicial review.”