Story by Tichaona Kurewa
The government reports that most local authorities have submitted their master plans in accordance with the Call to Action blueprint, with the exception of Harare and Chitungwiza.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the local authorities’ service delivery blueprint in November 2023 to enhance service delivery and accountability.
Among other deliverables, local authorities were tasked to submit master plans to the government by the end of June 2024 and to implement urban renewal programmes.
Local Government and Public Works Minister, Honourable Daniel Garwe, confirmed most local authorities have met the deadline, submitting their master plans for review.
The plans are now being made available for public viewing, allowing residents to provide feedback and contribute to the development of their communities.
“The majority of our local authorities have submitted the master plans for approval to the parent ministry,” the Minister said.
“We have since taken them back to them for onward public displays for people like yourselves to go and assess and make comments if you have any. That’s where we are now. But we are happy that we are only left with the two problem children, Harare and Chitungwiza.”
Minister Garwe emphasised that implementing these master plans will address the issue of land barons, suggesting a move towards more transparent and regulated land allocation.
“We are now moving to call to action two, which is now the implementation of the call to action. We have now, with the production of our master plans, conclusively said we have dealt with land barons,” he added.
The blueprint is the initial step towards urban renewal and improved service delivery, as the Second Republic targets attaining an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
