Zimbabwe Government Warns Property Owners: Renovate or Face Jail

THE government has ordered property owners to repair, renovate and clean up dilapidated buildings, with those who fail to comply facing fines and up to six months in jail. Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said all 92 local authorities across the country had been directed to immediately issue abatement orders against owners and occupiers of properties deemed unsafe, unsanitary or unacceptable. An abatement order is a legal directive requiring a property owner or occupier to remedy specified conditions within the period prescribed by law. Garwe said property owners had a responsibility to keep their buildings and surrounding areas in a safe, structurally sound and acceptable condition. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn He said the directive was being issued in terms of Section 36(4) of the Housing Standards Control Act [Chapter 29:08], which provides for action against buildings of an unsatisfactory standard. The Act covers measures including the repair, closure or demolition of buildings that fail to meet required standards. "In accordance with section 36, subsection 4 of the Housing Standards Control Act, all local authorities are accordingly directed to initiate processes for the issuance of abatement orders against property owners and occupiers whose buildings, boundary walls, pavements, yards and surrounding areas are unsafe, unsanitary, dilapidated, deplorable or otherwise in an unacceptable and intolerable condition. "This means that as property owners, you are expected to maintain your buildings and surrounding areas, ensuring that you maintain a modern, safe and pleasant environment. Garwe said the crackdown would cover shopping centres, business complexes, industrial properties, offices, churches, other places of worship and residential properties. "With immediate effect, ladies and gentlemen, abatement orders shall be issued to all building owners with dilapidated or undesirable buildings across all our 92 local authorities. "You are expected to beautify and maintain your built environment and surrounding area to the satisfaction of the local authorities upon which you reside," he said. Garwe also warned that those who ignore the orders could face criminal penalties. "Any person who fails to comply may be liable to a fine not exceeding level 5, imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both, as provided for in the applicable legislation," he said. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The minister said the measures were intended to compel property owners to restore buildings and their surrounding areas to what he described as a proper state. The directive comes as local authorities across Zimbabwe continue to grapple with deteriorating infrastructure and urban environments, below acceptable standards. Read the original article on New Zimbabwe . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public.