The City of Harare has issued a public notice warning all property owners and occupiers to repair, repaint and refurbish dilapidated and unsightly buildings, or face enforcement action. The notice was signed by Acting Town Clerk Advocate Warren S. Chiwawa. It is issued under Chapter 2, sections 48 and 49 of the Model Building By-Laws, 1977.
What The By-Laws Require
Harare City Council wants all property owners in the city to keep their properties safe, structurally sound, clean, orderly and presentable. This applies to every building type: commercial, institutional, industrial and residential.
It also covers the areas around the building. Yards, boundary walls and fences, pavements and access ways all fall within scope. Boundary walls facing public roads must have external lighting for safety and visibility at night.
Section 49 is the core provision. It stops owners and occupiers from letting a building become a danger to the health of occupants or the public. It also covers buildings that give off fumes, smoke or odours, or that are unsightly and disfigure the neighbourhood.
The council had previously set a target of reaching world-class city status by 2025. That target was missed. Reports from 2024 and 2025 pointed to uncollected garbage, dry taps, burst sewers, potholes and poor lighting. In August 2026 the focus is enforcement of building by-laws, under the slogan “Be The Sunshine Towards A World Class City.” The ambition has not gone away.
Who Is Affected, And What Does Non-Compliance Cost?
Council is calling on two groups. The first is property owners and occupiers generally. The second is those already served with Abatement Orders or statutory notices, who must now carry out renovation, repainting and refurbishment and submit proof of compliance.
Proof goes to the Department of Works, City Architect’s Division, Building Inspectorate, Room 8, Cleveland House. It must be accompanied by a valid Certificate of Occupation in line with section 44.
This is not the council’s first move. Its most recent Building Inspectorate blitz identified 465 properties across the capital as dilapidated, unsightly or in need of remedial work. The council says 465 statutory notices and Abatement Orders have been issued under the programme, and compliance has been low at around 30 percent.
The exercise is citywide. But the council has focused on the CBD and on properties along major arterial and strategic roads. That is where run-down buildings do the most damage to public safety and to the look of the city.
Enforcement is graded to the severity of the problem. Measures can include statutory notices, Abatement Orders, repair and renovation rules, securing of premises, and restrictions on occupation where public safety is at risk. On money, the council has said fines, administrative charges and penalties will be applied strictly in line with approved statutory and council tariffs, not through a blanket penalty.
Council-owned and government-owned buildings are not exempt. Remedial works have already started at Town House, Borrowdale District Office and the new Dzivaresekwa District Office. Repainting is planned for Cleveland House, the Department of Housing and Community Services headquarters in Mbare, and Rowan Martin Building.
There is also a route for owners who cannot pay right now. The council has said financial hardship does not cancel the legal duty to maintain a property. But owners in real difficulty can engage the city, make written representations, and propose a credible, time-bound plan for the repairs.
Why This Matters For Zimbabwe’s Property Market
For Propertybook readers, this notice has three direct implications.
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Property values. Well-maintained buildings and streetscapes feed directly into valuations. Dilapidation drags down rental yields and puts investors off entire blocks.
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Compliance cost. Owners now need to budget for repainting, structural repairs, boundary wall lighting and certification. The Certificate of Occupation requirement also means informal or unregularised buildings are exposed.
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Urban regeneration. Building by-law enforcement usually goes hand in hand with city revitalisation and investor confidence. When cities start enforcing maintenance standards, higher municipal rates, new developments and stricter regularisation tend to follow.
What Should Owners Do Now?
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Audit your property. Check walls, roofs, paintwork, drainage and external lighting.
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Check your paperwork. Make sure you have an approved plan and a valid Certificate of Occupation.
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Respond to notices. If you received an Abatement Order, act now and submit proof to Room 8, Cleveland House.
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Engage contractors early. Council can enforce without further notice, so delays can turn into penalties.
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Talk to the council if funds are tight. A written, time-bound repair plan is better than silence.
The Bigger Picture
Harare’s move fits a regional trend. Councils are tightening aesthetics and safety codes to attract investment, and similar drives have run in Bulawayo and Mutare in recent years.
For buyers, tenants and developers, this means due diligence on building compliance matters more than it used to. A well-maintained building is no longer just a point of pride. Under the 1977 By-Laws, it is a legal rule.
Sources And References
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The Herald. “City Council Flags 465 Dilapidated Buildings,” 22 August 2026. Remarks by Acting Town Clerk Advocate Warren Chiwawa on the inspection blitz, compliance levels, penalties and council-owned properties. www.herald.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
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City of Harare. Public notice on the renewal and regeneration of buildings, issued under sections 48 and 49 of the Model Building By-Laws, 1977. www.hararecity.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
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NewZimbabwe.com. “Harare City Cracks Down On Dilapidated Buildings.” Background on earlier enforcement notices and the roads targeted. www.newzimbabwe.com. Accessed August 2026.
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NewsDay. “Hre Gives Ultimatum To CBD Property Owners.” Background on the 2024 notice and listed roads. www.newsday.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
