Gweru reads riot act to illegal gas kiosks, tuckshop owners

By Stephen Chadenga | 1h ago

Illegal gas kiosks

GWERU City Council has ordered owners of illegal gas kiosks and tuckshops to remove the structures before the local authority descends to destroy them.

Town clerk Livingston Churu said the order came into operation effective April 15.

“It appears expedient to the local planning authority and having regard to the provision of the said Town Planning Act (Regional Town Planning Act, Chapter 29:12: Revised Edition 1996, Enforcement Order Section 32) that the erection and use of the above structures (tuckshops and gas kiosks) for the above mentioned activities (erection and use of unapproved structures as tuckshops/kiosks and liquefied gas kiosks sites on road servitudes, public open spaces and private properties) is prohibited,” Churu said in a notice.

“You are therefore being served as owners, occupiers and users of the said land, stands/structures an order in pursuance of Section 32 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act (chapter 29:12) Revised Edition 1996.

“Therefore, take note that in terms of the said Section 32 you owners, occupiers and users are ordered to remove all the illegal tuckshops and illegal gas kiosk structures on road servitudes, public open spaces and private properties to ensure that the portions of land in question is reverted to its appropriate use.”

Churu added: “This order will come into operation on 15 April unless in terms of Section 32 of the Act an appeal is lodged with the Administrative Court within one month from the date of this publication or until the appeal is finally determined or is withdrawn.”

Gweru Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association executive director, David Chikore, welcomed the move particularly on gas kiosks saying they were posing safety risks to residents.

“Honestly we can’t have gas kiosks everywhere especially with the risks associated with handling liquefied gas,” Chikore said.