By Own Correspondent
Cash-strapped Chitungwiza Municipality has introduced a raft of measures to deal with illegal activities in the town including charging US$1 per day to all illegal vendors.
In a statement, the local authority said it will also be charging a US$5 penalty fee for those selling sofas sprouting across the dormitory town.
“Chitungwiza Municipality wishes to inform the general public that it has come up with a raft of measures that are aimed at implementing development control as well as enforcing by-laws.
“As such the following measures are currently being implemented penalizing owners of illegal structures,” reads the statement.
Among other measures announced include enforcement of compliance for the renewal of 2023 licenses, and introduction of storage fees after an hour of vehicle impounding.
The council also said it will start towing all vehicles parked at unregistered car parks, demolition of perimeter or boundary walls encroaching original stand pegs, and penalizing all uninspected perimeter walls.
Chitungwiza said it will also be doing enforcement of fire extinguishers, gas, and flammable liquids transporters, and penalizing borehole drilling without council approval.
“Penalizing tempering with water meter, water theft or bypassing the water meter, illegal water and sewerage connections and damage to Council infrastructure.
These raft of changes come in the aftermath of the demolitions of illegal structures at Chidochevanhu Beerhall compound in Unit N, Seke last week.
The structures housed grocery tuck shops, hair salons, and hardware shops, among others.
George Madongwe, a former council employee who leases Chidochevanhu beerhall, bemoaned the demolitions citing that they were illegal after an earlier agreement with council to build structures to enhance revenue collection.
