Harare Mayor, His Worship Cllr Jacob Mafume
By Brenda Mazhambe
HARARE – The City of Harare has intensified its ongoing Operation CBD Order Restoration, shutting down 463 businesses and issuing penalties against hundreds of property owners in a bid to restore order in the capital’s chaotic central business district.
For years, Harare’s CBD has been plagued by unregulated activities, ranging from illegal vending, mushrooming tuckshops, and nightclubs operating without licenses, to dangerous building modifications that have compromised safety. The disorder has contributed to rising accidents, including recent cases of building fires, collapsing walls, and fatal traffic mishaps blamed on congestion and the uncoordinated use of public spaces.
City authorities said the clampdown, launched earlier this year, is part of a broader strategy to bring sanity back to the once orderly CBD, which has increasingly become a hub for illicit deals and hazardous operations.
According to the latest update released on 14 August 2025, 463 businesses have been closed for non-compliance, while 413 were found operating without licenses. At least 141 buildings have accrued arrears in city rates, and 43 have had their water supplies disconnected.
The report also highlighted safety violations. Fifty buildings were found with expired fire extinguishers, while 111 lacked subdivision permits. A further 65 buildings were operating without approved building plans.
Despite the violations, 783 buildings were confirmed to have valid fire certification, and 501 had their building plans approved, showing partial compliance among operators.
The campaign comes amid mounting public concern over the decline of Harare’s CBD, where lawlessness, poor service delivery, and unsafe structures have made the city centre increasingly unattractive for both residents and investors.
