Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube, Deputy Radar Editor
A RECENT crackdown by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) on lettable unit shops in the city’s Central Business District uncovered that about 800 of over 1 300 premises are operating without proper licensing and face potential closure.
The partitioning of buildings and warehouses into small, lettable cubicles is gaining momentum in Bulawayo and other urban areas as players in the real estate sector respond to the growing demand for workspace by small to medium-scale enterprises.
This trend is driven by the demand for smaller, affordable spaces for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
While this development benefits the construction sector and creates employment opportunities, concerns have been raised about city standards, infrastructure and potential impacts on established businesses.
Despite a significant revenue increase from these shops recorded last year, the latest council report reveals that 66 percent, 873 units, are operating illegally.
“A blitz was conducted from June 9 to 13, 2025, targeting lettable unit shops in the Central Business District. A total of 1 323 lettable unit shops were inspected in 36 lettable unit complexes and 66 percent of the lettable unit shops were not licensed,” reads the report.
Of these shops, it was also discovered that just 21 percent were licensed, five percent were closed and just eight percent were vacant.
In debating the matter, Bulawayo councillors called on the blitz to continue to address the revenue leakages caused by the operations of these businesses.
“Councillor Lazarus Mphadwe noted that a lot of shops had no licences in the city. The compliance blitz should be continued until all businesses, especially shops, comply. Councillor Susan Sithole concurred. Most illegal businesses, especially food outlets, survived by paying bribes to law enforcers, a situation that propelled corruption and denied the council potential revenue. She felt that the council should regularise some of the activities.
“The shop licensing section in the Chamber Secretary’s Department was doing very well. There was a great need to fully equip this section with tools of trade, such as new computers and printing equipment. The licensing section was also a face of the council.
“A lot of business owners frequented this section to acquire shop licences. Council had an image to protect. Lettable Unit Shops in the City operate without shop licences and other relevant licences. This was a serious revenue leakage,” reads the report.
Early this month, the Harare City Council shut down at least 190 non-compliant businesses in an operation where they were targeting businesses without prerequisite licences, fire compliance, and certificates of operation, among others.
Meanwhile, some Bulawayo councillors have called for the regularisation of spaza shops in residential areas, despite council management noting that the law stipulates that their operations are illegal.
“Councillor Adrian Rendani Moyo supported the regularisation of spaza shops in residential areas.
The policy should be reviewed accordingly. Construction of spazas should be controlled and should be in line with the relevant building by-laws. Thereafter, these spaza shops should be licensed.
“Councillor Royini Sekete did not support the regularisation of spaza shop businesses in the city. A lot of illegal stuff would be sold in these spaza shops. In the event Council acceded to this, there should be strict conditions given to the owners and no construction would commence prior to the submission of building plans,” reads the report.
However, the Chamber Secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou noted that in terms of the law of spaza shops in residential areas were illegal, as the current council policy did not allow this activity.
“Food vending was not allowed from unlicensed premises. Braaing of meat was only applicable to licensed butcheries. Council shop licences were affordable for all business shops. Small shops paid up to US$167 for the whole year. The amount paid was determined by the size of the shop’s floor.
“The Town Clerk (Mr Christopher Dube) advised that other countries in the region, like South Africa, had recognised spaza shops.
“In his view, it would be prudent to review the relevant policies. Building plans should be submitted and approved before construction commences for every building in the City,” reads the council report.
