Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube, Deputy Radar Editor
BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has granted a rates reprieve to the owners of a central business district property that was completely destroyed by fire earlier this year.
According to a report presented by the Director of Town Planning, Mr Wisdom Siziba, on May 18, 2026, the local authority recommended a remission of rates for the property at 127A Fife Street following a devastating fire that gutted the building on February 18.
The property, owned by Morgan’s Investments (Pvt) Ltd, housed a restaurant, Fairy Café and was extensively damaged during the blaze, leaving the improvements on the site completely destroyed.
Council’s recommendation follows a Fire and Ambulance Services report dated February 26, 2026, which confirmed that the building had been gutted by fire.
The local authority also received correspondence from Ian and Co Real Estate, the property’s managers, formally notifying council of the incident and requesting consideration for rates relief.
In its report, the Town Planning Department cited provisions of the Urban Councils Act, which allow local authorities to undertake supplementary valuations where the value of a non-residential property has been materially affected by circumstances such as demolitions, floods or other disasters.
The report noted that Section 248 of the Act provides for a supplementary valuation of properties whose values have been significantly altered by disasters, while Section 249 allows for the amendment of the property’s valuation on the valuation roll.
Located along Fife Street between 13th and 14th Avenues in Bulawayo’s CBD, the property occupies a land area of 694 square metres.
According to the local authority, under the 2024 General Revaluation, the property had a land value of US$83 300 and improvements valued at US$87 300 before the fire.
However, following the destruction of the building, the value of the improvements has been reduced to zero, while the land value remains unchanged at US$83 300.
In light of the circumstances, council resolved to recommend that the application for remission be approved in terms of Section 248(1)(a)(iii) of the Urban Councils Act.
The local authority further recommended that the property’s valuation be amended in accordance with Section 249 and that the property be charged rates based solely on the land value until any future improvements are restored and the necessary approvals and occupation certificates are obtained.
Council also proposed that the remission take effect from the date of approval.
