Shurugwi Town Council (Fire) By-laws, 2025

These by-laws set out what happens on an outbreak of fire in the Shurugwi Town Council area and what building owners and occupiers must do to prevent one: procedures on outbreak, temporary street closures, reporting, fire alarms and hydrant signs, making fires, fireworks, combustible materials, storage of inflammable liquids and gases, inspection of buildings, premises and their use, approval of building plans, fire appliances in buildings, installation, repair, examination and removal of fire equipment, and testing of alarms.

Fire and rescue services are charged at cost recovery inside and outside the jurisdiction. Fire compliance certificates are priced uniformly at 10 per cent of the relevant licence fee across every category — fuel depots, service stations, LPG retail, bulk and wholesale, single and multi-storey commercial shops, light industrial stands and industrial units. Inspections cost US$10, and fire attendance at functions US$50 locally or US$100 outside the jurisdiction.

Penalties are US$250 for obstructing an authorised official, US$100 each for tampering with fire alarms or hydrant signs, improperly storing inflammable liquids or gases, removing fire-fighting equipment and unauthorised ringing or testing of alarms, US$50 for unauthorised installation or repair of extinguishers, and US$20 each for making fires without approval and discharging fireworks. Beyond fines, the council may close a building or require operations to cease until the occupier complies.

Shurugwi's approach differs from the City of Masvingo's fire by-laws of the same month, which set flat certificate fees of US$250 to US$2 000 by risk category rather than a percentage of the licence fee.