Bulawayo Flags 239 CBD Buildings Flagged As Unsafe in Major Safety Crackdown

Municipal authorities have declared 244 buildings structurally unsafe, issuing mandatory renovation notices to property owners across Zimbabwe’s second-largest city.

The sweeping safety audit reveals concerning non-compliance rates, with only six property owners fully addressing the council’s concerns.

Widespread Non-Compliance Raises Safety Concerns

Recent council reports indicate 169 property owners have completely ignored renovation orders, while just 69 have initiated partial repairs. The condemned structures include prominent landmarks such as the Highlanders Football Club headquarters along Robert Mugabe Way, which received its first violation notice nearly a year ago.

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“Our June inspections showed only one additional property owner had begun compliance work. We’re intensifying engagement efforts to compel action,” stated the official council report.

CBD Buildings Dominate Danger List

Bulawayo Flags 239 CBD Buildings Flagged As Unsafe – Image Source@herald

Of the flagged properties, 239 stand in Bulawayo’s Central Business District, with just five located in residential areas. Fort Street emerges as the most problematic corridor with 41 condemned buildings, including the Time Bank Investment property and multiple Naran family-owned structures.

Other critical areas include:

Robert Mugabe Way (35 buildings) – Housing Highlanders FC, ZAOGA, and commercial properties
Fife Street – Including ZIFA headquarters and pension fund offices
Herbert Chitepo Street (28 buildings)
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street (23 buildings)

Legal Enforcement Options

Under the Titles Registration and Derelict Lands Act (Chapter 20:20), the municipality possesses authority to:

Perform mandatory repairs at owner’s expense
Reclaim dangerously neglected properties
Initiate demolition proceedings through court orders

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A pending 2017 demolition order for a fire-damaged structure at 11th Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street highlights the sometimes lengthy legal process involved in urban renewal efforts. The Nicktrend Investment Services-owned building remains in limbo, awaiting judicial approval for removal.

Ongoing Safety Monitoring

Council inspectors continue enforcing the 1971 Bulawayo Buildings, Roads and Streets By-laws through regular structural assessments. The recent surge in abandoned CBD properties has prompted this aggressive enforcement campaign to protect public safety and preserve urban infrastructure.