The Bulawayo City Council has approved building plans valued at over US$3,5 million as of December last year, a 0,65% increase from November.
The developments are revealed in the council’s latest minutes on Building control section monthly statistics report.
The report states that the housing and community services department reported last month that the department processed a total of 242 building plans in December alone.
“Of these, 156 building plans with a value of US$3 529 699 were approved while 86 were referred back for corrections,” reads the minutes.
“There was an increase of 0.65% on approved plans compared to the total approved in November 2024.
“A total of 186 building plans with a value of US$3 674 900 were submitted in December 2024, a decrease of 3.63 % compared to last month’s figure.”
The minutes state that a possible total of US$36 749 was, therefore, raised from plan submissions as plan submission fees.
In terms of council model by-laws, co construction should take place without approved plans and inspections by council’s environmental and engineering department.
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The same model by-laws also state that no new building should be occupied with a certificate of occupation issued by the local authority.
A total of 1587 inspections were carried out in December 2024.
From these inspections, 52 buildings were issued with occupation certificates, eight dilapidated buildings were captured and 36 public buildings were assessed.
The council noted that a possible total of US$9 583 was raised from building inspections, hoarding fees and other Building Control activities captured in this report.
On dilapidated buildings visited, the council said eight properties needed refurbishment to avoid demolition.
“The housing and community services highlighted that they were looking for methods they could use to push for compliance on dilapidated buildings,” reads the minutes.
“Issues to do with staffing had been a challenge as two officers were available to cover the whole central business district.
“The employees were also incapacitated in terms of transport.
“The section had been engaged and looking at other innovative issues so as to put in conditions for maintenance.”
Town clerk Christopher Dube expressed concern on the dilapidated buildings, as the rate of those that complied was only 20.
He noted the necessity of revisiting existing policies and emphasised the importance of enforcing the law against those who did not comply.
In 2017, three people escaped death by a whisker when a building housing a Simbisa Brands restaurant, Nandos, situated along Jason Moyo Street collapsed on them.
In 2020, council’s fire exposed some government buildings such as Mhlahlandlela Government Complex, Zimpost, the Registrar-General's office and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority as prone to fire.
The country’s second city is witnessing an unprecedented increase in the number of abandoned, neglected and derelict buildings in the city centre in a clear sign of urban decay.
