…Meikles Park extension under Mupfumi now an eyesore

Ngoni Dapira

LUNAR Parks have always been a grand amusement for the kids and some young adults as well for some activities.

The canoe ride for kids which was introduced at this year’s lunar park.

However, this years, Lunar Park in Mutare which ran from December 20 to Sunday at the Meikles Park, sadly did not draw much hype compared to previous years, despite reasonable charges for all the activities.

Despite running from as early as 8am until late in evening, small crowds were usually seen. The new owners of the lunar park, Spare Mania Investments, from Harare that acquired the concern last year, confirmed that business was slow this year unlike before.

“Sadly business was slow regardless of our reasonable pricing. Our activities ranged from $2 to $4 which was actually last year’s prices. We never changed. Some people that came actually thought it was United States dollars but that was bond notes. However, we will not despair but just hope for a better turnout next year when we come back…I cant say how much we made, that’s for the finance people, but I can just assess that turnout was low compared to previous years,” said Chrispen Runhare, the Spare Mania Investments supervisor.

Rugged terrain, outgrown grass and unpleasant look is the state of the Meikles Park extension, which is dire need of refurbishments which were last promised in 2014 by Stallvic Enterprise Pvt Ltd after it acquired the land.

While no concrete reason was obtained from those who run the lunar park to try and explain the low attendance, the word on the street blames the dusty, rugged and unappealing state of the open space area at Meikles Park, which is now an eyesore. This is regardless of the fact that it is positioned at the heart of Mutare’s central business district. Some however also blamed the old, rickety machines of the lunar park, which might have been considered to be ‘too risky’ to ride, as another major reason why the lunar park did not do so well this year.

Runhare was however quick to dismiss that their machines were not too ‘risky’.

“Our machines are very strong and well serviced, especially when we are going out like this…We use about 16 to 17 men to set up, of which our permanent engineers are very experienced. That’s why we do not have any cases of malfunctions, even here in Mutare there were never any cases. Did you hear of any?” said Runhare.

He added, “…We are based in Harare at the showground but year round we travel across the country mostly to Bulawayo, Kwekwe and here (Mutare). What we often consider before setting up in any town is whether there is any spacious and appealing land to set up our Lunar Park. Last year we introduced it to Kadoma and Chinhoyi. Actually from Mutare we are heading to Kwekwe,” he said.

In 2014 Ignatious Chombo the then Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning directed Mutare Mayor Tatenda Nhamarare to officially inform residents in the city that Meikles Park in the central business district was no longer council property.

The land was leased to prominent businessman and Zanu PF Central Committee member Esau Mupfumi, through his company, Stallvic Enterprise (Private) Limited. Government transferred 100 hectares of land in Fern Valley to council in exchange for Meikles Park.

The deal included offered land to Stallvic Enterprise Pvt Ltd at Meikles Park in Mutare reservation of 27 on the lease with option to purchase basis. There was however, a condition that the Ministry would only offer Stallvic Enterprise a four-year lease agreement when he paid the annual rental of (United States) dollars, sixty eight thousand one hundred dollars ($68 100).

Since 2014 up-to-date Stallvic Enterprise has been receiving rentals from flea market vendors and churches that lease the open space at the park. Sadly there have never been any infrastructure developments to upgrade the place over the past four years and it is continuously deteriorating.

Mutare Mayor Councillor Blessing Tandi in a telephone interview today (Wednesday) said he was not aware of anything concerning the Meikles Park extension as it was now under the Ministry of Local Government since 2014. He said they only oversee the small section along Herbert Chitepo with the demarcations set by the public toilet and tourism information office boundaries. He said at the area they oversee at the park, they have been currently upgrading it by erecting fences and sprucing it up, unlike the extension area under Stallvic Enterprise. Clr Tandi said he was equally concerned about the dilapidated state of the section under Stallvic Enterprises.

Efforts to get hold of Mupfumi were fruitless by time of going to press as well as officials from the Ministry of Local Government.

This year’s lunar park introduced the canoe ride for the kids, but Runhare said it was the Big Wheel that proved to be most popular going for $3 per ride. The usual roller coaster, vroom vroom, jumping castle, boat rides, shell rides, jet, clowning, face painting, kids’ toys and photographing were on offer throughout.