PLUMTREE town in Matabeleland South has given businesses operating illegally in the border town an ultimatum to regularise their operations before Friday or have their structures demolished.
In a notice, council said: “The Plumtree community is advised that council resolution No FC55/24 to enforce and order the removal of illegal structures stated in notice 06 of 2024, also applies to all other structures, illicit business operations such as car repair services along council roads, brick moulding, welding and other backyard unregulated workshops.
“Owners of the said properties are advised to comply with the directive issued to avoid unnecessary costs associated with council proceedings to perform on behalf of the offenders. Failure to comply with the order will leave council with no option but to invoke the provisions of section 32 part 2 subsection C of Regional Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12] as read with provisions of the Model Building by-laws Chapter 2 section 42 subsection 3.”
The section reads: “The local authority may direct the owner or tenant of any site upon which there has been erected a structure falling within the terms of this part to remove such structure from the site if at anytime the structure becomes unsightly or likely to depreciate the value of any neighbouring premises in any way offensive.”
The council said all such structures must be removed on or before February 23.
The notice came as government recently launched an operation targeted at land barons, which has resulted in the eviction of people accused of settling illegally on State land.
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The victims include beneficiaries of the land reform programme.