Online Reporter
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has raised alarm over the growing number of businesses operating without licences and registration certificates, thereby depriving the local authority of the much needed revenue while at the same time exposing residents to public health risks.
Many businesses are operating without valid shop licences, liquor licences and registration certificates.
The businesses operating without the required documents include supermarkets, butcheries, restaurants, bottle stores hardware shops and salons.
According to a report presented to a full council meeting recently following 1 715 inspections conducted by the council’s health inspectors in April, there is widespread licensing, hygiene and public health violations across the city.
The councillors have therefore called for urgent action to address the problem which they said was not only depriving the local authority of the much-revenue but was also creating an uneven playing field for complaint operators.
They also noted that the operation of unlicensed food outlets exposed residents to health risks hence the need for council officials to continue the crackdown on illegal operators.
During the inspections, council officials uncovered 1,5 tonnes of rotten elephant meat at a primary school and 128kgs of uninspected meat at a butchery in Barbourfields suburb.
Other businesses were found selling expired foodstuffs, cooking oil repackaged in unsuitable bottles and food products with damaged packaging or obliterated expiry dates.
We want at this juncture to urge the council officials to continue with the crackdown on non- compliant businesses in order to protect residents against unscrupulous businesses that are exposing them to health risks.
There is also a need to ensure all businesses pay compliance fees to council.
It is these compliance fees which enable council to provide services to residents and the businesses.
Council on its part, we want to believe, has revised its compliance fees downwards as directed by Government.
Central Government recently approved sweeping reductions in regulatory fees, licences and compliance costs to enhance ease of doing business.
The move is meant to encourage businesses to be compliant while also improving their profit margins.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has urged businesses and residents to report councils that are not complying with the Government directive on fees and rates.
Minister Garwe said Government’s move to revise fees and other levies downwards is meant to boost businesses and attract new investors to cities and towns hence the need for councils to effect the revised fees.
Councils, as we have said before, have an obligation to ensure Zimbabwe remains a safe, secure and competitive investment destination.
