Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Checkpoint desk
THE Harare City Council has revealed that at least 31 percent of buildings in the central business district (CBD) are in poor shape.
This comes amid a mass exodus of businesses relocating to suburban areas due to deteriorating services.
The revelation was made at a recent workshop where local authorities under Harare Metropolitan Province presented updates on their draft master plans to Harare Provincial Minister Charles Tavengwa.
“There is a mass exodus of businesses from the central business district, with major companies relocating to suburban areas due to high crime, poor parking and deteriorating services,” principal consultant for the Harare Master Plan project, Mr Trymore Muderere said, while presenting findings on the Real Estate and Land Marketing draft.
“We are also seeing a high office vacancy rate, with 60 percent of office space remaining empty. Furthermore, 31 percent of CBD buildings are in poor condition.”
Last year, the city identified more than 500 buildings including 14 multi-story ones in the city centre as unsafe for occupation and potentially posing a danger to people and other buildings.
But the city has failed to take action against property owners with buildings in the CBD that have been condemned.
