BULAWAYO, OCT 11 (SOUTHERN EYE LIVE): THE City of Bulawayo has invited bids from residents, businesses and organisations seeking to lease municipal properties, including shops, factory shells, kiosks, service industry stands, preschools, overnight car parks, orphanages, social clubs and a beer garden.
In a public tender notice issued on Sunday, the local authority said eligible bidders must be Bulawayo ratepayers interested in leasing or developing municipal premises and stands across the city.
The properties are offered under five-year leases, some with an option to purchase while others will be subject to periodic review.
Among the available properties are kiosks at Centenary Park in Suburbs and Stanley Square in Makokoba, as well as a cloakroom at Renkini.
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The council is also offering service industry stands in Cowdray Park, where successful bidders can establish businesses such as hair salons, grinding mills, carpentry workshops, gas retail outlets, firewood businesses, welding operations, hardware shops and tyre-mending services.
"Several factory shells at Kelvin North are available for businesses involved in electrical appliance repairs, key cutting, shoe repairs, tailoring, dressmaking, carpet cleaning, leather crafts, bicycle repairs, welding, pottery, plumbing and carpentry," read the notice.
The tender also covers shops in Makokoba, Sidojiwe, Nguboyenja, Iminyela, Njube and Mpopoma, with permitted uses including barbering, general dealing, butchery, carpentry, hair salons, cycle repairs and firewood retailing.
The council is further offering land for preschools and crèches in Nkulumane and Magwegwe, an orphanage in Luveve, and a property in Cowdray Park designated for an orphanage and preschool.
Two sites in Cowdray Park are available for overnight car parks, while a social club stand in Northend is designated for basketball. A property in Matshobana, comprising 4 418 square metres of land and buildings measuring 415 square metres, is available for use as a beer garden.
"Interested bidders must purchase tender forms from Office 914 on the ninth floor of the Tower Block at a non-refundable fee of US$34.65, inclusive of VAT, for each property or stand being tendered for," the notice read.
The council said bids must state the rental or purchase price in United States dollars and be submitted using separate tender forms for each property, accompanied by proof of payment of the tender fee.
The properties are offered on an “as is” basis, and the local authority warned that the highest bid would not necessarily be accepted.
A non-compulsory public tender briefing session for individual bidders will be held at Small City Hall on October 20, 2026, while companies and organisations will attend on October 21. Both sessions will begin at 10am.
The deadline for submission of sealed bids is November 11, 2026, at 10am. Applications must be addressed to the Town Clerk, City of Bulawayo.
The council said tenders would be opened publicly at the closing time.
Bonafide Bulawayo residents interested in developing the city have been encouraged to participate, with young people and people living with disabilities specifically urged to submit bids.
