Zimpapers Logo

Mash West Bureau
CHINHOYI Municipality housing department has launched a blitz targeting business operators, whose buildings are substandard or dirty, as the council beefs up its plans to attain a city status by next year. Chinhoyi acting public relations officer Mr Tichaona Mlauzi yesterday says council launched a blitz on all business operators in the town, who were yet to spruce up their structures. Mr Mlauzi urged those who are yet to comply to speed up the process of refurbishing their premises as they also risk being fined.

“As a city, we want to attain the city status by 2018, so we have given a directive to all the business community to spruce up their premises. Other need to demolish and rebuild as per safety standards,” he said. Mr Mlauzi also allayed fears from the business community that sprucing up their premises will translate to an increase in the council’s charges.

“Some of the business people were assuming that there will be increases on council charges to those who would have complied, that is not the our position, instead we are going to fine those that doesn’t spruce up on time as a punishment,” he said.

A council official Mr Tendai Mukuruva also noted that it was part of the national stance that business operators in the central business district (CBD) and towns should meet council’s minimum requirements. Mr Mukuruva said the local authority has also started a clampdown on all food outlets failing to meet the minimum operating requirements, amid indications that the increasing number of backyard food operators in the town was now posing health threats. He also urged the community to report to council all the suspected food retailers who were operating illegally.

“We will be doing a blitz on all food outlets and no reservations, everyone has to comply. Hope you will support us in the process,” said Mr Mukuruva. He said council inspectors were already on the ground doing their frequent checks.

“We already have inspectors who do regular checks, but we have a challenge of illegal operators, sometimes they close their shops when they see us coming,” he said.