Online Reporter
Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has imposed a 90-day conditional moratorium on the processing of applications for change of reservations and land use by all local authorities across the country.
The move is aimed at enhancing urban planning compliance, accountability, and strengthening oversight in both urban and rural settlements.
The moratorium, which came into effect on Friday, was issued by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, under Section 69 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12).
The provision empowers the Minister to issue general or specific directions to local authorities on how to carry out their planning functions.
In a circular addressed to all mayors and chairpersons of local authorities, Minister Garwe said the directive applies to every local authority without exception.
“Concerned with the proliferation of obstructive land uses in residential areas, acknowledging the increase in public complaints against such, and in the quest for ensuring the achievement of an upper-middle-income economy society by 2030, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works hereby issues this moratorium, which becomes effective immediately and shall run for 90 days from the date of pronouncement, that is the 2nd of May 2025,” reads part of the circular.
The moratorium prohibits local authorities from exercising planning powers related to changes of land use and reservations during the 90-day period.
Minister Garwe explained that the moratorium is not a suspension of development, but a necessary measure to restore order in the management of the built environment.
He said it will also address widespread concerns over illegal land allocations, inconsistent land use changes, and loss of public spaces to private development.
To have the moratorium lifted before the 90-day period lapses, local authorities must meet a set of conditions outlined in the directive. These include strengthening development control units through adequate staffing and provision of proper tools of trade, enhancing public consultation mechanisms using platforms such as billboards, social media, local radio and TV, and council websites, timely enforcement of relevant legal provisions, including by-laws, regular review and monitoring of compliance with development permit conditions and developing and implementing plans for the maintenance and beautification of road buffers and other public spaces.
Each council is required to adopt a “whole-of-council” approach to ensure the conditions are met. The minister will only lift the moratorium for councils that submit comprehensive reports demonstrating full compliance.
These reports must include details on the structure and capacity of each council’s Department of Spatial Planning and Land Management, which oversees development control.
“The minister shall uplift the moratorium for those local authorities that would have complied with the conditions and provided proof of compliance,” the circular read.
Minister Garwe also called on stakeholders and the public to be patient, assuring them that the ministry is taking a robust approach to bring lasting improvements in land use planning.
The interpretation and enforcement of the moratorium rests with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and further guidelines to help councils comply are expected to be issued in the coming days.
The moratorium follows growing public outcry over chaotic land use changes and questionable land deals that have compromised infrastructure development and service delivery in many areas.
