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within the proposed CBD expansion are Arcadia, Braeside, Hillside, Ridgeview, Milton Park, Newlands, Eastlea, parts of Belvedere, Belgravia, Workington and Graniteside industrial area.

“The City of Harare is carrying out an exercise to regularise commercial activities in residential areas by issuing licences to operators whose premises comply with the minimum requirements,” he said.

The city has dispatched a team accompanied by a member of the police force to carry out the exercise.
Dr Mahachi said members of the public were free to demand identification particulars from the team members to check whether they were genuine city workers.

In the past bogus teams have moved around and fleeced people of their money.
Yesterday Dr Mahachi said the process was part of efforts to normalise business operations within the next six months after which operators would be required to apply for permanent permits.

He added that the issuing of business licences was part of the city’s empowerment drive.
“Some of the people operating these businesses are sustaining families. We want to empower them to do that legally,” he said.

The expansion of the CBD is expected to decongest the city centre and unlock new opportunities for the development of the city.
The expansion is also expected to raise the value of properties in the designated suburbs and those adjacent.

New buildings that include hotels like the proposed Hilton Hotel in Eastlea, the Chinese Shopping Mall in Belvedere are among the projects to decorate the new look CBD.
Urban planner Mr Percy Toriro hailed the city’s decision as responsive and sensitive.

“For many emerging businesses that cannot afford the high office rentals in the existing CBD, this is a welcome development,” he said.
Mr Toriro, however, said the move presents a number of challenges among them the conflict in legislation where some residents may object to the granting of business permits.