Bulawayo councillors raise alarm over tough business registration rules

Bulawayo city councillors have voiced serious concern over the stringent registration requirements imposed by the local authority on small business operators, warning that the rigid system is fuelling corruption and costing the city potential revenue.

Speaking during a recent full council meeting, Ward 9 councillor Donaldson Mabuto said the current business registration process was pushing small business owners to resort to paying bribes to avoid harassment by law enforcement officers.

Mabuto said his findings revealed that small shop owners and vendors were willing to pay for licences, but overly strict by-laws and inflexible procedures were creating barriers that encouraged underhand dealings. He claimed that some operators were forking out at least US$35 monthly or bi-monthly in bribes, depending on the frequency of police raids.

"The council should think outside the box. Vendors want to be licensed, but council's inflexibility is a major obstacle. I have done research which revealed that vendors and other small shop operators are willing to pay council, but stringent bylaws hinder the progress," Mabuto said.

His concerns were echoed by Ward 23 councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, who noted the efforts by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to bring order to vending activities in the city, but called on central government to step in and assist in addressing the problem of illegal vending.

Mayor David Coltart acknowledged the challenges and stressed the importance of developing attractive and accessible vending spaces that would encourage informal traders to operate within the legal framework.

He cited stalled projects like Egodini Mall and suggested the need for partnerships with investors to establish modern market spaces equipped with essential amenities such as roofing, solar power, clean water, toilets, and smooth flooring.

Coltart said council should identify and develop more designated vending bays and provide proper structures for traders to boost their confidence in the system. He added that increasing the number of vending bays could raise the number of licensed vendors from 12,000 to 15,000, enhancing council revenue collection.

"We must move from plans to action," Coltart said, urging the town planning department to prioritise the creation of formal vending spaces, particularly in high-density suburbs like Makokoba and Nkulumane.

The mayor emphasised a phased, sector-focused development approach targeting retail, manufacturing, and vending to support the city's informal economy while maintaining order and service delivery.