By Kelvin Kasiwulaya
The City of Gweru (COG) has given a 3 months ultimatum to proprietors whose buildings are dilapidated to fix them before the local authority takes legal action.
In a public notice signed by the local authority’s Acting Town Clerk, Vakai Chikwekwe, the council said some of the dilapidated structures in the Central Business District (CBD) required demolition as they pause a threat to public safety.
“Some buildings in the Gweru Central Business District are by and large in a ruinous, dilapidated, and unsightly state, showing signs of being dangerous, neglected, and likely to cause injury to the general public and to values of adjacent properties. These buildings require different actions depending on their state(s) and condition(s). These actions range from assessment by competent structural engineers, face-lifting, sprucing up to demolition and re-construction of approved standard structures,” reads part of the notice.
Chikwekwe pinpointed the areas in which the dilapidated buildings are located and advised proprietors to spruce up their structures within a period of three months.
“The owners of buildings in a dilapidated and neglected state that are situated in the area bound by Tongogara Avenue, First Street, Jason Moyo Avenue and Tenth Street are required in terms of Section 35 of the Act as read with Chapter 2 (Sections 48 and 49) of the Model Building By-laws to take the necessary corrective measures as regards face-lifting and/or sprucing up of their respective buildings within a period of 3 months from the date of this advert. Failure to comply will result in Council seeking legal recourse and issue respective Court Orders. Any person wishing to make any objections or representations to the foregoing must lodge them with the undersigned not later than 30 days from the appearance of this advertisement,” notified Chikwekwe.
The Notice was given in terms of Section 35 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12) as read with Chapter 2 (Sections 48 and 49) of the Model Building By-laws.
Also quoting the public health Act (Chapter 15:09).
Chikwekwe warned all business enterprises whose premises are not kept in a clean state that they will not get 2023 operating licenses.
“Any trade premises not kept in a clean state free from offensive smell arising from any drain, sanitary continence or urinal, or not ventilated so as to destroy or render harmless and inoffensive as for as practicable any gases, vapors dust or other impurities generated, or so overcrowded or so badly lighted or ventilated as to be injuries or dangerous to the health of those employed herein; Bearing in mind all business should meet with the above standards, failure to do so we will not issue out 2023 operating licenses to the businesses” warned Chikwekwe. #The Sun
