Harare City Council
He wants the government to issue regulations giving him the power to close down dilapidated buildings in the Central Business District (CBD).
It comes after the council issued a 14-day ultimatum last week requiring all property owners and occupiers to improve the condition of their buildings through repairs, refurbishment or repainting.
The Council is now seeking permission from the government to enforce this directive by punishing those who do not comply with it.
In an interview, Engineer Hosia Chisango, Harare City Clerk, said: “We have written to the Ministry of Local Government on the issue, and we hope they will issue an SI (Statutory Instrument) to cement the issue, which will then give us the power to withdraw the building permit for those who do not meet the standards.
“If anyone violates this, we will withdraw their trading licenses or close those premises.”
Under Section 49 of the Model Building Regulations (1977), property owners must not allow any building on their premises to become a hazard to the health of its occupants, or to be a source of fumes, smoke or unpleasant odors, or to be an unsightly discoloration of the neighbourhood.
“The notice we gave was that some could start work on their buildings immediately; Failure to do so will enable us to withdraw their licences,” Engineer Chisango said. “The other option for the owners of those buildings is that they can actually give us their plans for what they want to do and when.
“We are targeting buildings on the streets that we released.”
The council cited buildings located along 11 major roads in the city: Robert Mugabe Road; Jason Moyo Street; Leopold Takawira Street; Samora Machel Street; Julius Nyerere Road; First Street; Seventh Street; Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road; Fidel Castro Road; Airport Road and Seki Road.
“We are conducting comprehensive inspections and working with the police,” Engineer Chisango said. “We have now noticed that more than 20 or so people can work under one building. Now, the facilities are no longer sufficient for the people in that building.
“We are doing this for safety issues. There is this trend where these people are taking their goods and displaying them outside. For this reason, we are working with the police to remove vendors on the street. Sunday Mail
