Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has called for urgent action to address what it described as a governance gap affecting thousands of residents in Hwange.
Presenting the committee’s report in Parliament this week, committee chairperson Dr Maxmore Njanji said residents in the concession areas were caught in a system where they were administratively under Hwange Rural District Council but politically represented by councillors sitting under Hwange Local Board.
“The residents residing within Hwange Concession areas are caught in a governance puzzle. Although administratively under Hwange RDC, the area is politically represented by councillors adjudicating under Hwange Local Board,” Dr Njanji said.
“This arrangement unfortunately excludes them from meaningful participation in policy and decision making.”
The committee noted that the current set-up was undermining efforts to transform Hwange into a modern urban and industrial centre.
“Hwange is fast growing and booming due to the rapidly expanding mining activity which requires urgent intervention for its upgrading to a thriving urban industrial hub,” Dr Njanji told Parliament.
“However, the current setup on what the Committee observed as a disjointed urban administration system, undermines any meaningful progress towards having vibrant urban systems.”
To resolve the matter, the committee recommended the establishment of a commission of inquiry to assess the feasibility of bringing Hwange under a single local authority by August 31, 2026.
At the same time, Dr Njanji stressed that any incorporation of concession areas into Hwange Local Board must respect property rights.
“The incorporation of HCCL’s private land into HLB jurisdiction without compensation will not only be unconstitutional and unlawful, but most importantly an infringement on property rights,” he said.
The committee further observed that residents in the concession areas were currently excluded from government funding streams, including devolution funds and other development programmes.
In its conclusion, the committee said incorporating the concession areas into Hwange Local Board, accompanied by proper planning and compensation, would improve service delivery, urban planning and the overall quality of life for residents.
“Hwange is a prime urban area with all the hallmarks to be accorded municipality status in the shortest period of time,” Dr Njanji said.
