City of Harare: Issues Illegal Advertising Signs Removal Directive

• The City of Harare issued a directive on October 15 for businesses to remove illegal advertising signs within 48 hours.
• The order targets murals and under-awning/verandah signs that lack valid permits or approved dimensions.
• Signs must adhere to specific sizes: 0.9m x 0.3m for under-awning and 1.2m x 0.4m for facade signs.
• This initiative is part of Operation Chenesa Harare, aiming to restore order and uniformity in the CBD.
• Non-compliant businesses will have their signs removed by the council at their own expense, with First Street being a priority area.

Businesses that fail to comply with the 48-hour deadline and neglect to remove their non-conforming signs will face direct intervention from the council.

On October 15, businesses operating within Harare's central business district were served with a stringent directive concerning their external advertising. Acting Town Clerk Warren Chiwawa issued a public notice, initiating an immediate 48-hour window for the removal of non-compliant signage. This urgent mandate specifically targets murals and signs positioned under awnings and verandahs, which have proliferated across the city centre, often without adherence to established regulations.

The directive underscores a critical enforcement push against numerous advertising displays, particularly hand-painted murals adorning shop fronts and oversized boards suspended beneath verandahs. These installations frequently contravene the provisions of the Harare (Control of Advertising Signs) By-Law, which explicitly requires all advertising signs to possess a valid council permit and be based on approved plans. The City of Harare's move aims to rectify widespread non-compliance with these essential advertising sign regulations.

The core of the current enforcement action lies in the Harare (Control of Advertising Signs) By-Law, a crucial piece of legislation designed to govern the placement and specifications of commercial signage. This by-law mandates that every advertising sign must not only secure a legitimate permit from the council but also conform to pre-approved design and dimension plans. A significant portion of the currently displayed signs, including many prominent hand-painted murals on building facades and large boards extending from under-verandah structures, are found to be in direct violation of these fundamental requirements.

To ensure uniformity and adherence to the Harare CBD sign regulations, the council has stipulated precise dimensions for various sign types. For signs located under awnings and verandahs, the approved size is strictly 0.9 metres by 0.3 metres. Facade signs, typically positioned above shop entrances, are permitted to measure 1.2 metres by 0.4 metres. Any advertising display that exceeds these specified measurements or has been erected without the necessary official permission is deemed illegal and must be promptly removed to achieve Zimbabwe business advertising compliance.

This recent Harare illegal advertising signs removal directive forms an integral part of Operation Chenesa Harare, a broader, city-wide initiative spearheaded by the council. The overarching goal of this campaign is to restore order, cultivate a clean, safe, and meticulously organised capital city. A key objective within Operation Chenesa Harare signage efforts is to introduce a consistent and uniform aesthetic for all advertising displays throughout the central business district.

Acting Town Clerk Chiwawa confirmed that particular scrutiny will be applied to First Street and its adjacent areas, indicating these locations as priority zones for enforcement. Businesses that fail to comply with the 48-hour deadline and neglect to remove their non-conforming signs will face direct intervention from the council. In such instances, the City of Harare will proceed with the removal of the signs itself, and all associated costs will be directly charged back to the non-compliant businesses, ensuring accountability for the enforcement of the City of Harare advertising by-law enforcement.

Lawyers and compliance officers must immediately advise businesses operating in Harare to review all external advertising signs, particularly murals and under-awning/verandah signs, to ensure compliance with the Harare (Control of Advertising Signs) By-Law's permit and dimension requirements within the 48-hour deadline to avoid forced removal and associated costs.

Source: Original reporting via local Harare municipal notice.