And other by-law violations that could lead to arrest if proposed municipal police powers become law
Harare businesses are required to collect litter generated through their operations, provide adequate bins and maintain road verges adjoining their premises under city by-laws.
The Harare Anti-Litter By-Laws prohibit businesses from allowing waste generated during their activities to remain in public places. Operators must also provide enough bins in and around their business areas.
Under the Road Verges Maintenance By-Laws, property occupiers must maintain verges adjacent or opposite their properties. They may be penalised for allowing litter to accumulate, failing to maintain shrubs or planting trees and shrubs that obstruct traffic or road signs.
These obligations form part of a wider municipal enforcement schedule covering vending, noise, food handling, business licensing, land use, cycling and bus termini.
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Other listed offences include trading without a permit, selling uninspected meat, operating from unlicensed premises, cycling on pavements, extracting sand without approval and damaging council trees.
An alleged violation does not automatically result in arrest. Depending on the applicable provision, council enforcement may involve a ticket, fine, confiscation or prosecution.
The Government has proposed granting municipal police broader powers to arrest and investigate suspects for council by-law violations, minor traffic offences and development-control cases. Specialised municipal courts have also been proposed.
However, the broader arrest powers are not yet law, and no final offence-by-offence arrest schedule has been enacted.
The accompanying Zim Now visual summarises some of the Harare municipal by-laws residents and businesses should know.
Source: City of Harare official by-law enforcement schedule.
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