News / Regional
Kwekwe comes hard on shop-owners
09 Sep 2015 at 09:25hrs | Views
KWEKWE City Council has proposed to pass by-laws that will make it criminal for shop owners to leave vendors selling wares on their forecourts.
In the proposed amendment of the Public Health By-Laws, 1981 (S.1 502 of 1981) council proposes to levy a fine of $20 or a month imprisonment or both for shop owners who allow vendors to sell their wares in front of their shops.
Section 4 of the amendments gives the shop owners the responsibility of ensuring that there is no litter in front of their shops taking away the burden of ensuring cleanliness on shop fronts from the local authority, and placing it on business operators.
"Every owner of a shop, premises or building shall be responsible for, (a) the cleanliness of the forecourt and backcourt therefore (b) ensuring that no vendors occupy and set up shop on the forecourt or backcourt pavement therefore," reads part of the proposed amendments issued by Kwekwe town clerk Emmanuel Musara.
In the proposed amendments, council intends to fine vehicle owners for any litter thrown out of moving vehicles. This will affect mostly public transport vehicles which will now only be licensed if they have a suitable bin on board.
"Where litter is discarded from a moving or stationary vehicle, as the case maybe, the owner or driver of the vehicle shall be held responsible and the fine imposed on section (5) shall apply," reads the proposal.
Council has been battling to relocate vendors especially in the central business district despite dispatching municipal police armed with batons to forcefully remove the vendors.
The fines that are likely to be imposed on shop owners for failing to comply with the by-laws include a fine not exceeding level three of $20, or one month imprisonment or both.
The proposed amendments will be scrutinised from September 14 to October 14 before they can be implemented.
In the proposed amendment of the Public Health By-Laws, 1981 (S.1 502 of 1981) council proposes to levy a fine of $20 or a month imprisonment or both for shop owners who allow vendors to sell their wares in front of their shops.
Section 4 of the amendments gives the shop owners the responsibility of ensuring that there is no litter in front of their shops taking away the burden of ensuring cleanliness on shop fronts from the local authority, and placing it on business operators.
"Every owner of a shop, premises or building shall be responsible for, (a) the cleanliness of the forecourt and backcourt therefore (b) ensuring that no vendors occupy and set up shop on the forecourt or backcourt pavement therefore," reads part of the proposed amendments issued by Kwekwe town clerk Emmanuel Musara.
In the proposed amendments, council intends to fine vehicle owners for any litter thrown out of moving vehicles. This will affect mostly public transport vehicles which will now only be licensed if they have a suitable bin on board.
"Where litter is discarded from a moving or stationary vehicle, as the case maybe, the owner or driver of the vehicle shall be held responsible and the fine imposed on section (5) shall apply," reads the proposal.
Council has been battling to relocate vendors especially in the central business district despite dispatching municipal police armed with batons to forcefully remove the vendors.
The fines that are likely to be imposed on shop owners for failing to comply with the by-laws include a fine not exceeding level three of $20, or one month imprisonment or both.
The proposed amendments will be scrutinised from September 14 to October 14 before they can be implemented.
Source - newsday
