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Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A LOCAL retail company in Bulawayo, Glassbury Hardware, which has been allegedly operating without a licence since 2015 constructed a building without the approval of the Bulawayo City Council (BCC).

The company, which trades as Gas Centre, a court heard failed to comply with a notice issued by Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) in 2015 to produce a licence at the nearest police station within seven days.

The company represented by its director, Shahadat Farid (44) allegedly failed to acquire the Zera licence between September 2015 and November last year.

The company is facing charges of retailing petroleum products without a licence, undertaking construction work without the approval of the local authority and occupying and using a building without council’s approval.

Through its lawyer Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners the company pleaded not guilty to all three charges before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove.

In denying the allegations Mr Ncube said the company had been operating from number 124C, Jason Moyo for the past 21 years and there was no specific regulatory body.

He said Zera convened a meeting in 2014 and introduced new regulations. Despite issuing a notice on September 8, 2015 to produce a licence, Zera went on to inspect the premises three days later and the company scored 81 percent and 80 percent was the required percentage.

“After rectifying the areas of concern the accused company continued to trade at the pleasure of the regulatory authority,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said on September 8, a Zera inspector only identified as Mr Kuchiocha issued the company with a notice to produce a licence within seven days.

He said: “In accordance to the Petroleum Act Mr Farid failed to supply the licence for the period from September 8, 2015 to November 23, 2016 and continued selling liquid gas.”

“Mr Farid was arrested on November 23 last year and a 02 by 45kgs empty blue gas tank, 01by 48kgs empty grey tank, 01by 48kg with 18, 4kgs, a Mes gas scale were seized,” Mr Jaravaza said.

The court heard that on May 16 last year, Mr Farid submitted a proposal plan to the Housing Community Services Department Building for construction of a model gas building to use while selling petroleum liquid gas.

Mr Jaravaza said Mr Farid constructed the building without council’s approval. — @MondelaC