Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has launched an aggressive review of outdated by-laws inherited from the colonial era as part of efforts to remove barriers to investment, modernise local authorities and accelerate the country’s smart cities agenda.
The exercise, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Office, seeks to repeal obsolete legislation that has frustrated investors and delayed the adoption of modern technologies in urban service delivery.
Addressing delegates at the Southern Africa Eco Infrastructure Summit 2026 in Victoria Falls yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Albert Mavunga said some local authorities were still relying on century-old by-laws that were no longer relevant to present-day development needs.
“We are in the process of vigorously reviewing those by-laws. For example, an investor comes to invest in water meters and water treatment systems, only for residents to rely on a 1913 by-law that stops those investments from proceeding,” said Deputy Minister Mavunga.
He said the ministry, working together with the Attorney General’s Office and local authorities, was reviewing and repealing outdated legislation that continued to impede investment and infrastructure development.
Among the laws under review is a 1913 by-law governing water service provision in some urban centres, which prescribes a post-payment billing system and effectively prevents the introduction of prepaid water meters.
Deputy Minister Mavunga said removing such legislative bottlenecks would pave the way for the adoption of modern technologies that improve efficiency, revenue collection and service delivery.
He said Government had already introduced several policy reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business and creating a more attractive investment environment.
These include consolidating multiple business licences into a single permit, significantly reducing the cost and administrative burden previously associated with obtaining up to 12 separate licences.
“Zimbabwe is truly open for business and that is not fiction; it is a reality in every sense,” said the deputy minister.
“We have also produced a new framework for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to expedite the approval of partnerships between local authorities and Government.”
Deputy Minister Mavunga said Government was also strengthening accountability in local authorities through the introduction of minimum service delivery standards under Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026.
The new framework links the performance of council officials to measurable service delivery benchmarks while encouraging local authorities to prioritise public services over administrative costs through a recommended expenditure ratio of 70 percent on service delivery and 30 percent on employment costs.
Deputy Minister Mavunga said Government had also capped annual business licensing fees at US$500 and standardised parking charges at US$0,50 per hour to create a predictable and investor-friendly operating environment.
As part of broader decentralisation reforms, Deputy Minister Mavunga said local authorities had been empowered to approve qualifying investment projects at the local level, reducing delays associated with centralised decision-making, although strategic sectors and large-scale investments would continue to require central Government approval.
Meanwhile, the City of Victoria Falls is already embracing the smart city vision through discussions with private sector partners, including Geo Pomona Waste Management, on waste-to-energy projects aimed at improving waste management while generating renewable energy.
Deputy Minister Mavunga said such partnerships demonstrate Government’s commitment to leveraging innovation, technology and private sector participation to transform urban centres across the country into modern, sustainable and investment-friendly cities.
