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Investigations Editor
CHAOS reigns supreme in Harare’s buildings as property owners and in some cases, tenants, partition shops without approval in violation of the town planning regulations, a development that has seen each shop accommodating over 20 different indigenous entrepreneurs who do not have business licences.
The practice is not peculiar to private properties but a number of council commercial structures are also being subdivided by greedy lessees who end up pocketing much more than what they pay to the local authority monthly.
Council is losing out on building plan fees, business licence fees and penalties due to failure by property owners to regularise the partitions.
Such lawlessness happens right in full glare of council inspectorate teams that visit the traders weekly to collect “protection fees”.
Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Innocent Ruwende confirmed the rampant unapproved partitioning of city properties saying a list of such buildings was being compiled.
“Building Inspectorate, Fire Brigade are carrying out site inspections and engaging property owners to have approved plans before carrying out illegal partitions,” he said.
Mr Ruwende said there will be a blitz on such errant property owners.
“Efforts are underway to carry out blitz operations to either have these partitions removed or be regularised where they comply with the model building by-laws of 1977.
“A comprehensive list of such properties will be availed soon after compilation by our building inspectors,” he said.
Council says they are losing out on building plans fees, business licence fees and penalties.
The Herald visited a number of buildings in Harare, private and council owned where illegal partitioning of business properties was rampant.
Most boutiques and shopping malls are operating without licences, following unapproved partitioning of shops.
The licence inspectorate teams from police and the Harare City Council usually pounce of shopping malls, arresting those operating without licences.
Most of them do not have lease agreements with the property owners but they ride on legitimate lessees who illegally partition the space and accommodate more people out of greed.
Town planning expert Mr Percy Toriro said all partitioning should have council approval to ensure maintenance of the health standards.
“The tendency to create too many partitions may be legal, but must comply with health requirements regarding sanitary facilities for the new users of the buildings.
“The health requirements are set and approved by council. Council building inspectors also check and approve for structural soundness of new partitions.
This includes the tenants who operate different businesses and their clients requirements as well. So it must be a planned and structured process that considers everything. Otherwise there is risk of creating unsafe, inconvenient and healthy environments,” said Mr Toriro.
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