Suburban
PROPERTY OWNERS who have built houses and buildings in new and old suburbs without certificates of compliance have been urged to regularise their properties or the municipality will demolish the structures.
Suburban Reporter
However, the City of Harare said properties developed on prohibited land will not be regularised and face demolition.
In wards in the eastern, northern and western parts of the city, 14 suburbs are affected in Wards 5, 8, 16, 17, 18 and 41. Affected suburbs include Belvedere West (Ward 5), The Grange (Ward 8) Mabelreign, Madokero, Westlea and Tynwald (Ward 16), Borrowdale West (Ward 17), Borrowdale, Crowhill Extension (Ward 18), Marlborough, Bluff Hill, Goodhope, Adlynn and Tynwald North (Ward 41).
In a statement, the City of Harare’s Department of Works said it was aware that property owners in various suburbs in areas without certificate of compliance had completed building structures which were occupied without approved building plans in violation the model building by-laws of 1977.
“Owners of such building structures mentioned above are advised to visit Building Inspectorate offices at Cleveland House, Leopold Takawira Street or their nearest district office for payment of their plan submission and regularisation fees and penalties,” the city’s Department of Works said in the statement.
For regularisation, property owners must provide the following information:
Proof of ownership of land
Approved copy Town Planning layout
Approved copy of Survey Diagram
Approved Sewer and Water reticulation designs
Approved Road Engineering designs
Register of Stand Numbers and allocation list of beneficiaries
Status of Land, whether built or not built
Structural Engineers Report and Structural Certificate on Built-up structures without stage inspections
The City of Harare said its officials from the Development Control Unit and the Building Inspectorate will soon be visiting the affected suburbs for inspections.
“Teams of our Development Control Officers and Building Inspectors will soon be visiting all affected suburbs making door to door inspections of such properties.
“Residents are kindly advised to co-operate with our inspectors who will be carrying official identification particulars. Failure to comply may result in demolition of such structures and any costs incurred will be recovered from the property owners.
“Regularisation will not be allowed for properties that were developed on schools, institutions, wetlands and environmentally sensitive sites,” the municipality said.
The other affected suburbs from the rest of the capital city are Dzivarasekwa Extension, Southlea Park, Stoneridge, Eyecourt, Saturday Retreat, Grobbie Park, Waterfalls, Budiriro Township, Msasa Park, Hatfield, Marimba Park, Warren Park, Kambuzuma, Glen Norah, Hatcliffe Extension, Mufakose District, Kuwadzana District, Mabvuku, Tafara and Glaudina.
The City of Harare’s regularisation notice followed immediately after the municipality had hiked its building plans, inspection fees and regularisation fees with all the charges quoted in United States dollar.
However, residents and developers have the option to pay the tariffs in local currency but at the prevailing official exchange rate of the day they will be paying.
Some residents have described the new fees as “madness” and a clear sign of desperation by the financially struggling council to increase its revenue generation. Permit fees for trenching and gravel extraction have also been pegged in US dollars.
Below are the City Architect’s fees and penalties quoted in foreign currency:
HIGH DENSITY AREA: RESIDENTIAL
Main House 343
Out Building 343
Double Storey 354
Minimum Charge 343
Boundary Wall 100
LOW DENSITY AREA: RESIDENTIAL
Single Storey 505
Double Storey 675
Multi Storey 1293
2nd Dwelling 505
Out Building and Gazebo 404
Pools (Fixed) 202
Pre-Fabricated (Fixed) 395
Boundary Wall/Brickwork Per Metre Run 162
Minimum Charges (Fixed) 520
FLATS, TOWNHOUSES, TERRACCED/CLUSTER
Single Storey 707
Double Storey 2021
Multi Storey 3233
Minimum Fees 758
PENALTIES BUILDING WITHOUT APPROVED PLAN: DWELL:
High Density 1515
Low Density 3031
Boundary Wall 1010
Commercial/Industrial Single 14346
Double 28288
Boundary Wall 10012
Other (for example minor structures) 2869
Note: ADD SUBMISSION FEES TO THE PENALTIES 121
Search Fees (Low Density) 113
Search Fees (High Density) 50
Amended (Dwell) High Density 121
Amended (Dwell) Low Density 226
Amended (Commercial/Industrial) 675
Amended Multi Storey 1572
Dwell Certified (High Density) 226
Dwell Certified (Low Density) 335
Commercial/Industrial (True Certified) Single Storey 675
Commercial/Industrial (True Certified) Double Storey 788
Certificate of Occupation (High Density) Minimum 404
Certificate of Occupation (Low Density) Minimum 808
Certificate of Occupation (Commercial/Industrial) Minimum 2247
DEVELOPMENT STAGE INSPECTIONS PER STAGE PER VISIT
High Density 50
Low Density 80
Commercial/Industrial 424
Inspection at Owners’ Request per visit 354
DEVELOPMENT STAGE INSPECTIONS PENALTY FOR SKIPPING STAGES:
High Density Per Stage 210
Low Density Per Stage 3213
Industrial/Commercial Per Stage 5557