Chitungwiza Town Council (Advertising) By-laws, 2024

Chitungwiza Town Council has new advertising by-laws, approved by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works under the Urban Councils Act.

No one may place, exhibit or display an advertisement on a road or public place without council permission. That covers posters, banners, placards, billboards, notices and devices, whether stationary, on a building or perimeter wall, on a sandwich board or vehicle, or on any movable device that is not in transit. Three things are carved out: normal business advertising painted on or fixed to an omnibus or commercial vehicle, a sandwich board or vehicle genuinely in transit between where it is kept and an approved display site, and advertising already permitted under the Regional, Town and Country Planning (Advertisements) Regulations, 1976 or an approved local plan or scheme.

Separately, no one may erect or place an advertisement on a building, land or public place without paying the advertisement fees council prescribes by order.

Certain positions are banned outright: electricity standards, parking meter standards, trees, traffic signs, bridges, road furniture, traffic circles and traffic islands belonging to or controlled by council; anywhere causing a hazard or obstruction to drivers or pedestrians; anywhere causing a nuisance to neighbours or the public; and anywhere council has prohibited. There is a limited exception for local event notices on a council poster board, and for Zimbabwe Electoral Commission election and referendum material, which may go on roadside trees and on portable boards where no hazard is caused.

Applications must be in writing setting out the adverts, their number and intended location. Council may grant permission with conditions or refuse with reasons, may cap the number of signs at any location, and may revoke permission or change conditions at any time — in which case the applicant must remove the adverts. Council may charge an application fee and take a deposit against the cost of removal.

Event advertising must come down within 24 hours of the event ending. Council may remove any advert that is unapproved, non-compliant, dangerous to traffic or the public, too brightly illuminated, projecting over a council street, or behind on its billboard fees. It must give 24 hours' written notice to the owner to remove or alter, and if the owner does not comply council removes it and bills the owner for the cost. Obstructing a council official carries a fine. Adverts that are immoral, offensive, likely to promote unlawful behaviour, likely to tarnish the council's image or containing hate language are prohibited, as are adverts exceeding the approved size, built of unapproved materials, or not certified by council.

The by-laws set no fine amounts. Section 9 makes contravention punishable by "a fine specified in an order of council", and the advertising fees are likewise left to a council order. Advertisers and residents therefore need to obtain the current council order to know what anything costs or what a breach will cost them. Note also a cross-reference slip: section 6 says an application is made "for the purposes of section 4 or 5", but the general permission requirement sits in section 3.