Illegal billboards, advertising signs face demolition

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

The City of Harare says it will soon embark on a blitz to demolish illegal billboards and advertising signs practices within its jurisdiction.

In a statement, the city administration urged business owners and residents to promptly dismantle any unlawfully built billboards saying those found on the wrong side of by-laws face penalties for non-compliance.

“The City of Harare has commenced a rigorous operation to eliminate illegal billboards situated on roads under its authority. We urge business owners and residents to immediately remove any illegally installed billboards.

‘‘Failure to comply will result in fines, and all unpaid billboards will be deemed illegal and subsequently taken down. Furthermore, wall murals installed without council approval will be subject to removal,” said the City of Harare.

The Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) recently raised concerns over estate agents in Ward 18 engaging in unauthorised advertising activities within community spaces, which has elicited discontent among residents.

BRRA said it had alerted the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe, urging the regulatory body to intervene and ensure adherence to legal provisions.

“We are appealing to all estate agents to desist from this illegal practice that contravenes city by-laws. The random placement of advertising notices is unlawful, and we have communicated these concerns to the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe.

‘‘Their failure to act may implicate them in this malpractice, and we expect them to take decisive action before this issue escalates,” said BRRA.

A few months ago, residents of Old Alexandra Park confronted the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe over misleading advertisements by estate agents characterising the suburb as a commercial centre despite zoning regulations stipulating the area as strictly residential.

This has sparked a demand for estate agents to cease such unethical advertising practices, aligning with the City of Harare’s development plans and by-laws.

Last year, Government and the City of Harare directed owners of all unlicensed billboards to remove their structures, saying they would adhere to strict enforcement of regulations to maintain the visual appeal and safety of the cityscape.

The two authorities expressed dismay at the rampant proliferation of both legal and illegal billboards, including directional signage on State and council road verges, prompting the need for decisive action.

According to the Government Billboard Policy and the City of Harare (Control of Advertising Signs) By Laws, 1981, building billboards or any structure within the City of Harare area of jurisdiction or along State roads without a valid permit and approved plans is deemed illegal.

Owners of unlicensed billboards were urged to remove them, failure of which, the municipality and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development will take swift action to remove them, with the costs borne by the owners.

Government and the City of Harare reiterated that non-compliance will result in legal action and invoking of provisions of the City of Harare (Control of Advertising Signs) By-laws which stipulate hefty fines and penalties for violators.

The two authorities said investigations were underway into corrupt acquisition of billboard permits to be followed by an enforcement blitz to ensure compliance with the regulations.