Ban ‘holy’ noise too
Noise levels can be a real problem in any neighbourhood and there are many issues surrounding noise pollution in a residential area that are covered by city council and municipal by-laws. These include what you can and cannot do, what steps you can take to minimise problems caused by potentially excessive noise, and what action can be taken against you if you don’t reduce your noise levels.
In terms of the problems excessive noise can cause, most disagreements and arguments between neighbours can often be avoided if they are forewarned about potential ‘occasional’ situations which are likely to result in excessive noise. However, while excessive noise can be the result of a planned situation, sometimes it is completely unplanned or somewhat out of your control. Even in these situations, there are still some precautionary measures that can be taken.
In March, Blantyre City Council issued a ban on holding of public events such as weddings, zinkhoswe and bridal showers in residential areas. The noise has died down since then. But, we are still getting noises in our neighbourhood from overnight prayers, and generally church events that are held in residential areas. Perhaps the council should have explicitly put it out that the ban extends to such gatherings.
In many residential areas, houses have been turned into churches and worship centres without getting development permission to change use of the premises.
They play loud music, pray over the microphone disturbing the whole neighbourhood. Sometimes those who hold the church events justify the noise by saying izi ndi za Mulungu. That’s not enough reason to disturb your neighbours. After all, not everyone in the neighbourhood shares your religious beliefs and that has to be respected. Mind you, that neighbourhood does not belong to you alone, but to everyone and always keep that in mind.
Reasonable neighbours are not usually ‘kill-joys’ and most of us will want to have a party celebration, hold prayers at some time or another. The best way of avoiding any problems with your neighbours is to tell them in advance that you are planning such an event, what time it is going to start and, more importantly, what time you’re planning to end it or at least the time by which you will ensure that they won’t be disturbed by excessive noise—usually related to loud music but also by rowdy conversations and boisterous behaviour.
It would really help if BCC could come out in the open and explicitly ban holding of prayers (the kind where they play music and pray so loud that it’s hard to hear each other) in residential areas.
Don’t hide behind God to disturb the peace in the whole neighbourhood. Be considerate to others.
