Evolution of Retail Space in Bulawayo: The Rise and Impact of Small Lettable Unit Shops

Abstract

Urban deindustrialisation in Zimbabwean cities has created vacant commercial spaces alongside expanding informal economic activity. In Bulawayo, this has contributed to the emergence of Small Lettable Units (SLUSs), informal micro-retail spaces inserted into former industrial and commercial buildings. This paper examines the evolution, benefits, and challenges of SLUs using a qualitative case study approach based on field observations and semi-structured interviews in selected inner-city locations. The findings show that SLUs enable the adaptive reuse of underutilised buildings, provide affordable retail space for informal traders, and contribute to inner-city economic activity. However, regulatory ambiguity, infrastructure strain, and tensions with formal planning standards remain. The paper argues for more flexible planning and governance approaches that recognise informal retail as a permanent feature of deindustrialising cities.

Keywords: Informal Sector, Small Lettable Unit Shops, Bulawayo, Central Business District, Retail, Land Use, Regulation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007382