Municipal Reporter
THE Municipality of Beitbridge (MoB) has banned home-based informal industries in line with the the Government’s National Clean-Up, Restoration, Orders and Safety Programme.
In a notice Monday, MoB told residents to comply and stop all activities at undesignated places and also demolish illegal structures.
“The Municipality of Beitbridge wishes to inform all residents, vendors, property owners, commuter operators, and stakeholders that the Government of Zimbabwe has launched the . Hence the Municipality will commence the implementation and enforcement of the Programme on the 9TH day of October 2026,” said MoB in the statement released Monday.
It said municipal officers will be deployed around the town to check compliance of premises and illegal commercial activities, welding in residential areas, brick moulding under power line, tombstone manufacturing and selling in undesignated area, tuckshops, gas vending, illegal restaurants and kitchens, upholstery and furniture, tin smiths, river sand poaching and illegal stone quarrying will all be under spotlight.
MoB also asked property owners to refurbish their premises paying attention to cracked walls, ceilings and upgrading the roofs, replacing all broken windows, doors, floors and fittings and completing interior and exterior redecorations.
The property owners are also expected to trim vegetation and maintain grounds in a tidy condition and remove unsightly material and objects littering the ground.
On illegal markets MoB said all vendors and other informal traders operating on undesignated areas which include the Border area, the Central Business District (CBD), Khwalu1 Township, Khwalu2 Township, Tshitaudze Business Centres, Madinginye Township, Mabidi Suburb, Siyoka Suburb, Tshidixwa Suburb, along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway, along Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway, Dulivhadzimu Township, Vhembe View, Limpopo View and Milayo Industrial area, were advised to abandon opertions by the 9th day of October 2026.
They are expected to cease all operations, demolish all illegal structures built or put up on these areas and reclaim the sites to their original state, according to the notice from MoB.
“Those who would like to be allocated the operating spaces on designated areas are encouraged to visit the Municipality of Beitbridge offices during office hours for registration and consideration for allocation of the operating spaces.,” said MoB.
On the transport MoB said any person found parking, picking up or offloading goods and passengers on undesignated areas shall be subject to fines and penalties.
“Anyone or business found dumping waste on undesignated areas shall be charged a penalty,” said MoB.
It also said it will take action against unauthorised development and illegal structures (church shades, containers and tuck-shops) which it will demolish while dangerous buildings, unsafe structures will be condemned or demolished where applicable.
“Building of permanent structures and unauthorised containers is prohibited. Illegal businesses on road and ZESA servitude,” said MoB which faces a mamkoth task considering some of its employees have permanent structures on leased land.
It also said those generating noise from their different premises are expected to install sound proof fittings to their premises and the local authority will also take action against and drinking in public spaces will be subject to penalties.
MoB says illegal schools operating in residential areas shall be subject to fines.
Beitbridge by its nature has thousands employed in informal industries but has not been strict with structures .
Thousands of people in Beitbridge live in the industrial areas and other undesignated places while some council workers have built permanent structures on leased land which is prohibited.
MoB will be expected to demolish those buildings if it is serious.