Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has red-flagged the proliferation of unlicensed businesses and deteriorating sanitation in the city centre, saying it is a ticking health time bomb.
The issues were brought to the fore during a recent full council meeting, during which councillors examined reports from ongoing inspections and called for the enforcement of by-laws to restore order and improve hygiene standards in the city.
Ward 25 Councillor, Cllr Aleck Ndlovu, applauded the collaborative efforts between the health services and housing and community services departments, which carried out 2,188 compliance inspections across the city.
Despite the progress, Ndlovu warned that the high number of violations also reflected substantial revenue losses for the local authority.
“What is worrying is the financial loss the city is incurring due to businesses operating outside the licensing framework,” he said.
Ndlovu noted that some traders are sidestepping formal procedures by starting operations prematurely, without securing the necessary approvals.
“There are operators who begin trading while still in the process of setting up, instead of first ensuring they meet all licensing requirements, which is a serious issue of concern,” he said.
The inspection exercise also exposed significant health hazards, with some vendors found selling expired or unwholesome food, while others were handling consumables without undergoing the mandatory medical examinations stipulated by council by-laws.
“Inspectors discovered cases where stale food was being sold and in some instances, individuals were handling food without proper medical certification. There were also businesses operating under unsanitary conditions,” said Ndlovu.
He called for a more aggressive approach to enforcement, arguing that the current figures likely represent only a portion of the actual scale of illegal activities.
“Across the city, we are seeing spaces such as car parks being converted into informal trading hubs with various unregulated operations.
“This suggests that what has been uncovered so far could be just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Ndlovu said the challenge has been worsened by increasing volumes of waste, largely attributed to the influx of fresh produce traders operating within the city centre.
“To enhance efficiency, the cleansing department needs to be equipped with additional vehicles and compactors. Without that, service delivery will remain compromised,” he said.
Ndlovu also warned of the potential for disease outbreaks if the situation persists.
Ward 5 Councillor, Cllr Octavius Dumisani Nkomo, said the city continues to witness declining cleanliness levels. He warned that Bulawayo risks losing its long-held reputation as one of the country’s cleanest cities.
“Despite the efforts being made, the city is becoming increasingly dirty. We are heading towards a situation where the level of filth is comparable to that of a growth point,” he said.
Nkomo advocated for tougher penalties against littering, particularly targeting motorists and businesses that dispose of waste indiscriminately.
“There is a need for stricter enforcement when it comes to public littering. We are seeing people throwing rubbish from vehicles and this behaviour must be dealt with firmly,” he said.
Nkomo also encouraged the adoption of modern waste management strategies that can turn refuse into a resource.
“There is a potential to derive value from waste, whether through recycling plastics or composting organic material from markets. While enforcement is necessary, we must also promote initiatives that make waste management economically beneficial,” he said.
Bulawayo mayor, Councillor David Coltart, said council has begun addressing some of the logistical challenges through fleet renewal initiatives.
He revealed that 21 vehicles have been acquired using devolution funds, with a portion earmarked for the cleansing department to strengthen refuse collection services.
Bulawayo’s central business district has in recent years witnessed a surge in informal trading, with vendors occupying pavements and undesignated spaces, often operating without licences or adherence to health standards.
In response, BCC has periodically carried out enforcement operations targeting illegal businesses, resulting in the arrest of errant vendors and the confiscation of goods. The blitz operations are aimed at restoring order, protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition for compliant businesses.
Bongani Ndlovu