BCC owns buildings in state of disrepair!

Gibson Mhaka

IN a shocking revelation, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has said although several options to deal with dilapidated buildings were available in the City’s by-laws, however, the local authority also owned some buildings in a state of disrepair.

This has put the council in a fix, according to BCC chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou. According to the latest council minutes, Zhou explained that enforcing regulations was hindered by the fact that some BCC-owned buildings, including Sidojiwe and Burombo Flats, were also in a state of disrepair.

The minutes also revealed that 161 buildings in the central business district (CBD) were identified as needing repairs. Of these, 17 have come into full compliance, 61 have made partial progress, four are facing legal action and 79 have not taken any steps towards addressing the issues. The council is also imposing penalties on non-compliant properties.

“Discussion ensued and Councillor N. Ndlovu (Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, Ward 29) sought clarity on the strategy that had been put in place to address the issue of dilapidated buildings within the CBD. Councillor M.T Moyo (Mpumelelo Moyo, Ward 26) raised concern on the dilapidated state of Barbourfields stadium and felt that the stadium required renovations,” the minutes read in part.

The Assistant Director of Housing and Community Services, explained that the department only looked at the structural integrity of the buildings and those that were dangerous for human occupation were attended to in terms of Council by-laws. He further explained that routine inspections were carried out by a team involving other Council departments, which was a continuous programme that was taken up almost every day.

The Acting Director of Works indicated that Barbourfields Stadium structural assessment was done in 2020, to look at the foundation, cracks and steel corrosion and it was ruled out that the cracks did not threaten the structural integrity of the building, noting that the structure was still intact. He assured them that the stadium would be attended to accordingly.

In response Zhou advised that several options to deal with the dilapidated buildings were available to the local authority’s by –laws.

“It was a challenge to effect these as Council’s own buildings were also dilapidated. Residents always complained about flats e.g Sidojiwe and Burombo Flats. Council did not afford to revamp dilapidated buildings as it was already struggling to refurbish its own premises (buildings and halls),” she said.

In 2017, three people escaped death by a whisker when a building housing a fast food outlet, situated along Jason Moyo Street collapsed on them.