By Own Correspondent| Harare City Council is concerned with the influx of fake shop licences amid indications that the majority of these shops are not adhering to their agreements with the local authority.

An audit carried out in 2017 indicated that more than 2000 businesses in the city centre were operating without licences.

A number of businesses have no proper ablution facilities.

Read part of the Council’s minutes:

“A discussion on shop licences prompted the committee to express concern over business premises which had licences even though they did not meet the requirements, examples were Joy Centre at Machipisa …where over 500 people patronised but had just one toilet.

Further to that, the bar was being used for striptease purposes…It was the committee’s view that most businesses had fake licences hence it would be prudent if the relevant licensing officer could put their names on the licences so that it would be easy to verify if it is.”-DailyNews