adminSamantha Chigogo Herald Reporter
Harare City Council has started pulling down billboards erected illegally after an audit revealed that it lost more than $4 million as of March this year, due to unpaid commercial posters. In an interview on Friday, the city’s principal communications officer Mr Michael Chideme said all illegal billboards were being pulled out immediately. “We have begun a practical huge audit on all billboards in the city and every unregistered billboard will be pulled down,” he said.
“We urge all those who illegally put up billboards to remove them with immediate effect because failure to do so will result in the city doing it on their behalf at a cost.” Mr Chideme said council was encouraging advertising companies to use properly laid down procedures in putting up billboards. “One is expected to obtain council permission first before erecting any billboard and the billboard plans ought to be submitted for approval by the council’s relevant officials,” he said.
“With these approved plans, one can erect the billboard. All advertisers who have failed to complete these procedures will be forced to pull down their illegal commercials. “What is worrying the most is that some billboards are erected at sites that distract the motoring public, while some are blocking the legally erected billboards. “Advertising space is not for free in the city as this adds up to our total revenue generation, hence we are aiming at clearing the streets of all illegal and unpaid for billboards.”
The recent audit committee minutes resolved that council’s cross-functional management committee on billboards had to be resuscitated, whilst a detailed register of all billboards had to be prepared.
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