Harare City Council should compensate businessman Mr Alex Mashamhanda with another piece of land after a State ruling that the land on which he is building a fuel station and food court in Mbare was reserved for the expansion of Matapi Police Station.

Mr Mashamhanda is unhappy with the treatment he is receiving from Harare City Council after he was stopped from constructing a US$1,2 million fuel station and food court in Mbare on the corner of Harare and Cripps Road. The construction is between Matapi Police Station and Siyaso Market.

Last week Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo ruled that the piece of land was reserved for the future expansion of the Matapi Police Station.

"Let him get a nice place somewhere. He should be allocated elsewhere," he said.

Town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi confirmed Mr Mashamhanda bought the land from council.

Minister Chombo said Mr Mashamhanda's development was opposite another company whose plans to build 800 shops, food courts and a service station were approved.

Mr Mashamhanda said he was at pains to understand why his project, which was intended to employ 45 people and change the face of the immediate environment was stopped.