Staff Writer
The City of Harare (COH) has intensified enforcement against illegally erected billboards and unauthorized signage along Borrowdale Road, with the Department of Works removing structures considered to be obstructing motorists and compromising road safety.
The ongoing exercise, which started in the Helensvale area and is moving towards Sam Levy’s Village, is being carried out under the wider Operation Chenesa Harare Clean-up Campaign.
According to the City of Harare, a significant number of the targeted billboards and signs have been erected at road junctions and intersections, where they can obstruct motorists’ lines of sight and create potentially hazardous conditions for road users.
The local authority said the exercise is part of efforts to restore order and improve safety along major roads and public spaces in the capital.
“Some of the billboards and signage have been erected illegally and without the necessary authorisation from the City. Others are positioned at road junctions and intersections, where they obstruct visibility for motorists,” the City of Harare said.
“The Department of Works is therefore removing these structures as part of the ongoing enforcement and clean-up exercise.”
The council said the removal of unauthorised signage is also intended to ensure that roadside infrastructure and advertising structures comply with municipal requirements and do not interfere with the safe use of public roads.
The operation comes as Harare steps up implementation of Operation Chenesa Harare, a broader clean-up, decongestion and urban-order campaign being implemented by the Government and City of Harare.
Operation Chenesa Harare has its roots in the City’s efforts to mobilise residents, communities, businesses and other stakeholders to address urban cleanliness challenges.
Earlier iterations of the programme focused on issues including illegal dumps, uncollected waste, grass cutting and blocked drains, with the City describing the initiative as a community-based approach to improving the urban environment.
The campaign has since evolved into a broader urban regeneration and decongestion programme targeting illegal vending, congestion, littering, unauthorised activities and other forms of urban disorder.
The latest phase was launched in September 2026 by the Government and City of Harare, with Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume and Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe overseeing implementation. The City says the operation is aimed at restoring cleanliness, order, safety and accessibility in Harare.
The City has also deployed municipal police to support enforcement, with about 300 officers expected to work in shifts as part of efforts to sustain the gains of the clean-up operation.
The campaign has primarily attracted attention for its crackdown on illegal vending and the removal of activities from undesignated public spaces, but the City’s wider objective is to restore order and improve the appearance, safety and functionality of Harare.
The billboard removals along Borrowdale Road therefore represent an extension of the clean-up and enforcement drive beyond vending, targeting infrastructure and signage that the local authority says does not comply with municipal requirements.
The City of Harare said enforcement would continue in other areas as officials work to ensure that public spaces, roads and road reserves are used in accordance with municipal regulations.
“Operation Chenesa Harare is about restoring order, safety, cleanliness and accessibility across the city. All stakeholders are expected to comply with the relevant requirements and ensure that public spaces are not compromised,” the City said.