By Flata Kavinga
Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) has issued 22 enforcement and prohibition orders to curb the mushrooming of illegal structures and unauthorised land use within the periphery of Crossroads Rural Service Centre in Silobela, Chief Executive Officer Farayi Desimond Machaya has said.
Speaking during a full council meeting, Machaya said council was concerned by the rapid increase in illegal outbuildings, the commercialisation of homesteads and the unlawful parcelling out of land at the service centre.
He said council conducted a door-to-door inspection exercise to document the illegal activities, following which enforcement action was taken in terms of Sections 32 and 34 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12).
“As a result of the inspections, council issued 22 enforcement and prohibition orders directing offenders to stop the illegal activities and demolish unauthorised structures within 30 days,” Machaya said.
He said the compliance period lapsed on January 16, 2026, adding that council would take further action against those who failed to comply.
“Failure to comply will compel council to take the necessary legal steps to obtain demolition orders in order to restore sanity at the centre,” he said.
On development control, Machaya reported that 23 building plans were submitted for approval during the period under review, comprising six commercial, 14 residential and three boundary wall applications. Of these, 17 plans were approved, while six were still under consideration.
He said council also carried out 254 inspections at various construction stages on commercial, institutional, industrial and residential properties across the district.
