Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube, Deputy Radar Editor
BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) is making significant progress on a number of strategic planning projects across the city, with several local development plans now awaiting gazetting, while more than 2 700 new residential stands are awaiting approval by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
According to the latest council report, the local authority has advanced multiple Local Subject Plans (LSPs) and Local
Development Plans (LDPs) aimed at guiding future growth, housing development and land-use management in different parts of the city.
Among the major milestones is the completion of the planning process for the former Ascot Racecourse area under
Ascot Local Subject Plan 20. The plan was placed on public exhibition from November 5, 2025, to January 9, 2026, before being gazetted on May 1 this year and becoming operative on May 29.
Council said Local Subject Plan 18, which covers the northern areas of the Central Business District, has completed the public consultation stage and was adopted by council on May 6.
“Local Subject Plan 18 (CBD Northern Areas) was adopted by council on 6 May 2026 and is awaiting gazetting,” reads part of the report.
The report added that Local Development Plan 12, covering Bellevue, the remainder of Umganwini and Newton
Township, has also been adopted and is awaiting gazetting.
Meanwhile, the review of Local Development Plan 8, which focuses on the city’s industrial areas, was adopted by council on April 1 and is undergoing public exhibition.
Work is also progressing on Local Development Plan 14, which covers the south-western suburbs of Burnside, Hillside, Waterford, Buena Vista, Sunninghill, Manningdale, Willsgrove, Matsheumhlope, Riverside, Lockview and Fourwinds.
“The draft written statement has been completed and stakeholder consultations have commenced,” the report states.
For Local Development Plan 21, covering Northend, Paddonhurst, Sunnyside, Sauerstown, Rowena, Queens Park,
Highmount and Tegela, council has completed traffic and household surveys. The study report has already been presented to policymakers and will be taken to external stakeholders before preparation of the written statement begins.
A similar process is underway under Local Development Plan 6, which covers Emganwini, Nketa, Nkulumane, Sizinda and Tshabalala.
The report further noted that data collection and stakeholder consultations are continuing under Local Development Plan 11 for Cowdray Park and the Norwood Tracks area. Traffic and household surveys have been completed and preparation of the written statement is now underway.
Council also revealed that five housing layouts comprising 2 760 residential stands are awaiting ministerial approval.
“These include 509 low-density residential stands in Bellevue, 1 320 medium-density residential stands in Umganwini Phase Three, 183 residential stands in Emganwini, 166 residential stands adjacent to Nkulumane Complex and 582 residential stands in Luveve North,” the report said.
On land surveys, council reported that title surveys for Killarney East, Highmount and the remainder of Umganwini have been completed and submitted to the Surveyor-General’s Office for approval.
Regarding the Umvumila Integrated Layout, the local authority said the survey has reached 70 percent completion.
“The delay in completing the survey was due to obsolete survey equipment. New survey equipment has since been procured and the survey is expected to be completed by the end of May 2026,” council said.
