Harare To Ban “Fake Malls” And Partitioned Shops In CBD Over Safety And Licensing

Harare Cracks Down On “Fake Malls” And Partitioned Shops In CBD

Harare City Council has unveiled bold proposals to ban “malls” and shop partitioning in the Central Business District (CBD), citing serious safety concerns, licensing violations, and a push to modernise the capital. This move is part of the city’s newly released 2025–2045 Master Plan, which aims to decongest Harare’s CBD and create a 24-hour, vibrant urban core.

“The issue of what they call malls, frankly speaking, does not fit the definition of what we understand as malls, either locally or internationally,” said Mayor Jacob Mafume earlier this year.

“Someone just partitions their shop, names it after their grandmother, and suddenly claims it’s a mall.”

A Marketplace Under Fire

The city’s stance comes after a string of fires and safety violations linked to illegally partitioned shop spaces. Harare’s Chief Fire Officer, Mr Lovemore Mafukidze, issued a stark warning on 19 July 2025 about the growing dangers in these congested spaces.

“Large shops have been split into small cubicles, each selling different goods,” he said.
“We are seeing perfumes, artificial hair — materials that are highly flammable — all crammed into these tight, unregulated spaces.”

Mr Mafukidze added that fire risks spike in winter, when heating appliances are left plugged in and unattended.

“The CBD has become challenging,” he noted. “When electricity is restored after blackouts, heaters and cookers can spark fires among piles of goods.”

Investigations revealed that many of these “malls” are fitted with illegal wooden mezzanines, reducing ceiling heights to below two metres. These spaces lack ventilation, fire escapes and emergency plans, effectively turning them into fire traps.

No More Licensing Loopholes

Beyond safety, city authorities are also targeting what they call licensing abuse. Speaking in March, Mayor Mafume accused property owners of dodging shop licence fees by using the term “mall” to mask subdivided premises.

“You have simply created several businesses that should be paying licences to the city as individual shops,” he said.

“The idea of calling it a mall is simply an attempt to evade paying for each business.”

He announced that the city would now license shops based on floor size, eliminating the previous one-size-fits-all approach.

“A supermarket and a small shop used to pay the same fee,” Mafume explained.
“Now each business pays according to the space it uses.”

Blueprint For A Safer CBD

According to the Master Plan, adopted on 11 July 2025, the city will prohibit compartmentalisation of shop spaces and push for redevelopment of old, dilapidated buildings. This includes promoting vertically integrated mixed-use structures and dedicated informal trading zones, away from pavements outside established retailers.

The 20-year plan encourages property owners to upgrade facades, remove illegal structures, and comply with modern zoning rules.

The exhibition will run until 3 October 2025, with objections and feedback due by 16 October 2025. The full Master Plan can be viewed at municipal offices or downloaded from the official city website.