The Bulawayo City Council has flagged more than 90 food establishments for various operational violations, issuing warnings, condemnation orders, and fines following recent inspections.
A health inspectorate report by the director of health services Edwin Mzingwane Sibanda revealed widespread non-compliance, including operating without valid licenses or certificates.
Notable businesses cited included Foodies’ Butchery, Voluntary Meats, OK Zimbabwe, Mega Supermarket, and several liquor outlets.
The inspections formed part of 1, 374 compliance checks conducted for licensing, monitoring, and enforcement purposes.
Councillors raised alarm during discussions on the report, with Adrian Moyo stressing the need for better public education on licence acquisition.
“Many operators don’t know how to obtain proper documentation, making enforcement difficult,” the report noted.
Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo highlighted a growing trend of bottle stores operating as bars and sports bars transforming into nightclubs in residential areas, leading to increased substance abuse among youth, environmental degradation and noise disturbances.
The report indicated that 95% of liquor sellers lacked proper licensing, resulting in significant revenue losses for the city.
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Some enforcement officers were accused of accepting bribes from non-compliant businesses.
Council’s chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou announced plans to disseminate licensing information through social media, with all applications processed at City Hall Office 6.
Key enforcement measures include priority operations in the central business district before expanding to residential areas, special consent processes involving neighbour notifications and public objection periods for liquor license applications.
Notably, only sports bars with proper facilities are permitted in residential areas, operating between 10am and 10:30pm.
The report said the council received 105 shop license applications in January, 78 in February, 79 in March, 52 in April and 81 in May
The report revealed plans to intensify inspections and expand enforcement teams to address the growing compliance challenges.
Corruption has largely been blamed for non-compliance to council’s health regulations by food establishments in the city.
