By Loyd Matare
As the City of Harare celebrates its operation CBD order restoration, the capital’s business community is reeling in shock, with many operators accusing council of bleeding a struggling sector dry.
Instead of boosting compliance, business owners say the crackdown has brought their operations to a grinding halt.
This comes as several business malls and shops have been shut down in recent weeks, either for failure to renew licences or for operating in buildings that do not meet approved plan standards.
The operation, which began on July 28, has seen council teams descending on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) shutting doors and sealing premises in a show of force that many say is heavy-handed.
Business leaders today confronted city officials at Town House during a tense pre-budget consultative meeting.
At the top of their demands was a review of business licence fees, the introduction of monthly payment options, and the creation of a one-stop shop to ease compliance.
ALSO READ: Harare Targets 100% CBD Compliance
Concerns over order and security in the CBD also dominated discussions, with participants linking poor planning to rising lawlessness.
Among the chief participants at the meeting was Spar Zimbabwe representative Moses Chihuri, who pleaded with council to adopt a more flexible approach.
“…most of them look like they don’t want to pay, but they are not able to pay. So, my recommendation for that sphere, number one would be, instead of you issuing annual licences, how about issuing…affordable licences?
“I’ll get my approval from the city health, then you allow me, for instance I want a shop licence for $600, as an example, for a year, allow me to pay $55 per month. That means City of Harare is getting more money…”
He added that the current system is suffocating operators:
“…Right now, the situation is, I come to your offices, lets say I got a butchery… (operating a number of businesses) you need $5,000 from me, and I don’t have the $5,000.
“And you tell me, if you don’t have the $5,000, close, I don’t know if that is helping the City of Harare in any way by closing.
“I would suggest, if possible, can you allow us to pay our licences for a month in advance.”
Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore, Chairperson of the Small to Medium Enterprises Committee, said the outcry from SMEs is too loud to ignore.
He revealed that SMEs have called for a downward review of farmers’ and retail market fees, tuckshop charges, and home industry levies which many operators cannot afford.
Ngadziore added that the City is in the process of launching a microfinance bank to cushion SMEs and help them expand their businesses.
Meanwhile, the transport sector also weighed in, urging council to construct new ranks to service emerging suburbs.
