HARARE CLEAN-UP: Council Issues Ultimatum on Illegal Billboards and Murals

HARARE — The City of Harare has launched a major crackdown on unauthorized outdoor advertising, ordering property owners to immediately dismantle all illegal billboards, murals, and banners. The directive targets structures erected on road servitudes and private buildings without the necessary municipal approval.

In a public notice issued today, Acting Town Clerk Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo emphasized that the current state of advertising in the capital is in direct violation of established statutes.

• The erection of these structures contravenes the Harare Control of Advertising By-Laws (1981).

• Unauthorized signage also violates the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11].

• Offenders are required to either remove the structures or visit the City of Harare Advertising Section to regularize their status and pay the mandatory fees.

The local authority has issued a stern warning to those failing to comply with the directive. The City stated that non-compliance will lead to the forced removal of the structures by municipal teams, with the full financial burden of the exercise being passed on to the offenders. Council officials have described the move as "long overdue," citing the proliferation of illegal adverts plastered across walls and road servitudes as a significant contributor to urban clutter and potential traffic hazards.

Harare illegal billboards removal