adminVusumuzi Dube Municipal Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has condemned over 40 dilapidated buildings in the city centre since January, issuing owners with notices to rectify the identified defects in compliance with council by-laws or risk possible closure. Responding to written questions from Sunday News, the local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said it was highly likely that the figure could increase as it was an on-going exercise by the council’s building inspectorate.
She said while this huge figure was worrying, it was also partly related to the performance of industry and commerce in the city. “Council through its building inspectorate, issue out notices to non-compliant properties whose buildings are either dilapidated or need facelifts.
“This is an ongoing exercise. A total of 48 notices have previously been issued to such building owners in the city.
“It should be noted that building economics in the city is inherently related to the performance of industry and commerce as they have a symbiotic relationship with some buildings having business linkages to the closed industries in the city.
“A vibrant economy creates demand for good office space and it is hoped that as the economy picks up it will also trigger positive response by property owners by refurbishing buildings to make them attractive to clients,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said the local authority has also noted a problem where most of the buildings in the city did not have any wheelchair ramps hence they had started an exercise where they ensure that all properties in the city have these facilities.
“Most old buildings in the city do not have ramps, as they were approved as such but in recent years council has been ensuring ramps are included on plans for all public buildings. Property owners are encouraged to add access ramps for public convenience,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu said there were a number of both national and council by-laws which governed the state of buildings, which they constantly referred to when dealing with the city’s buildings or when they received complaints from concerned residents.
Some of the condemned buildings include Armona Mansions located at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Way and Fourth Avenue, Chrystal at the corner of George Silundika Street and Second Avenue and Banff along Herbert Chitepo Street.
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