MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-The City of Gweru has ordered the removal of all illegal tuckshops and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) kiosks operating on road servitudes, public open spaces and private properties, warning that defaulters risk demolition of their structures and possible penalties.
In a notice issued by Town Clerk Livingston Churu, the local authority said the unapproved structures contravene provisions of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act and must be removed to restore the affected land to its approved use.
The directive targets operators who have erected tuckshops and LPG kiosks without approval, particularly on road servitudes and public open spaces, which the council says pose safety risks and undermine orderly urban planning.
According to the notice, the enforcement order has been issued in terms of Section 32 of the Act and will come into effect on April 15, 2026, unless affected parties lodge an appeal with the Administrative Court within one month of the publication of the order.
“Owners, occupiers and users are ordered to remove all illegal tuckshops and liquefied gas kiosk structures to ensure that the portions of land in question revert to their approved use,” Churu said in the notice.
The local authority warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in council officials entering the affected properties to remove the structures, with the costs of the exercise recovered from the owners or occupiers.
It also indicated that the city reserves the right to issue a prohibition order under Section 34 of the Act to halt the continuation of the illegal operations even before the enforcement order takes effect.
The city further warned that the enforcement order will remain binding on any subsequent developments on the affected land and that penalties could be imposed for non-compliance, reads the notice.
