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THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has cracked the whip on Duly’s Motors in Bulawayo for subletting tenants in its basement parking facility.
The move is expected to cause commotion at the company premises located at corner Jason Moyo Street and 11th Avenue amid reports that its basement parking facility houses a car wash, restaurant and about 50 lettable unit shops.
According to a letter from the local authority’s engineering services department, dated 3 February 2023 and which B-Metro is in possession of, commercial activities were not permitted within the basement parking facility.
“This department carried out an inspection of your premises and it was established that there is an illegal car wash and lettable unit shops which are operating in the basement parking on stand 168 Bulawayo Township.
“Please be advised that commercial activities are not permitted within the basement parking facility. Your property (stand 168 Bulawayo Township, City Centre) falls under Zone 1B (Business shops and offices) in terms of Local Plan No.4-Central Area which covers the area , as such you are required to comply with the relevant Municipal by-laws and regulations.
“In light of this you are required to cease all operations in the basement parking area. Failure to comply will result in Council taking affirmative action against your company,” reads the letter.
Council described a lettable unit shop as: “A part of the building on the premises designed or intended for letting or exclusive occupation, which does not prejudice the use of the remainder of the building on the premises for separate self-contained occupation.”
Of late, there had been reports that the local authority was losing millions of dollars in potential revenue from hundreds of lettable shops that have mushroomed in the city and were not paying licence fees.
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