Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
CHURCHES in residential areas are now expected to have soundproof walls, while fuel stations will no longer be licensed to operate in residential areas in a bid to restore sanity in cities.
The latest move is meant to quell the chaos creeping into urban neighbourhoods.
Unveiling the reforms at a press conference in Harare last week, chief director of spatial planning and development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Shingirai Mushamba said the crackdown was aimed at developments that erode the peace of residential communities.
All places of worship operating in such areas, he said, will now be required to hold services in fully enclosed, soundproofed buildings, while new fuel stations in suburbs will be prohibited unless they form part of formally approved commercial centres — an enforcement, he stressed, of planning laws long on the books but unevenly applied.
“Every place of worship operating in residential areas will now need to conduct services in enclosed, soundproofed buildings,” announced Mr Mushamba.
“We are also putting an end to the establishment of new fuel service stations in these areas unless they are part of approved shopping centres.”
Legal basis
The declaration is an enforcement of longstanding municipal and planning laws.
The Government’s crackdown on noisy churches and fuel stations in residential areas is grounded in existing municipal and planning laws.
Under the Harare Noise (Amendment) By-laws, 2014, activities that disturb the peace of residential neighbourhoods — including the use of loudspeakers and amplified music — are prohibited unless approved by the council.
In addition, the Harare (Control of Worship in Open Spaces) By-laws, 2016, already requires churches to obtain permits for open-air services, restrict worship hours to between 10am and 6pm, and allow the council to revoke permits where services become a public nuisance. On fuel stations, the regulations fall under the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:13), which designates the Harare City Council as the local planning authority.
Section 24 of the Act prohibits any development without a permit, while Section 26 requires public notification and due process where a proposed land use differs from existing zoning.
As a result, fuel stations may only be approved in areas zoned for such use under the Harare Master Plan or Local Plans, and should not be permitted in residential zones without formal rezoning and statutory public participation.
“These stations must comply with zoning laws and not undermine the safety and tranquillity of residential areas,” said Mr Mushamba.
Urban planning experts have applauded the Government but cautioned against oversimplification.
Dr Percy Toriro said these measures are not entirely new but rather a reassertion of longstanding town planning principles.
“The balance between public good, convenience and ease of doing business is a delicate one,” he said.
“Zoning must adapt to modern needs while respecting the science of urban planning, which is deeply tied to human behaviour and aspirations.”
Dr Toriro stressed the importance of moving away from rigid zoning systems, advocating instead for mixed-use developments that reflect the evolving nature of urban life.
“This is a complex task; it is why urban planning is as much about science as it is about understanding people.”
Ms Fadzai Nhemachena, an urban planner and development practitioner, said enforcement of the already existing bylaws by the Government is an effort to reclaim control of urban spaces and restore planning standards that have been eroded over time.
“Noise from churches, fuel stations in suburbs and wholesalers operating from residential areas; these are all hallmarks of unregulated growth,” she said.
“Restricting these activities makes neighbourhoods safer, less contentious and more livable. It’s a step toward orderly cities, which is the foundation of effective urban planning.”
Ms Nhemachena also offered a sobering perspective.
Many of these activities, she said, exist in residential areas because formal commercial spaces are either too expensive or insufficient.
Churches meet spiritual and social needs, fuel stations bring convenience and wholesalers respond to local demand, said Ms Nhemachena.
Without viable alternatives, she warned, strict enforcement could disrupt livelihoods and fracture community networks instead of creating orderly cities.
“Success will hinge on how these measures are implemented,” she said.
“Authorities need to provide realistic transition options, enforce the rules consistently and strike a balance between regulation and economic survival.”
The Government’s resolve, however, is clear.
Local authorities have been instructed to freeze all land-use change applications unless they carry written approval from the provincial planning officer.
Public notifications of proposed changes must now appear on billboards, websites, social media and local radio stations, ensuring transparency.
An expedited waiver system will take effect on February 10, 2026, allowing developers to submit applications for land-use changes directly to local councils instead of central ministry offices.
To maintain oversight, councils will forward weekly reports of applications to provincial deputy directors for vetting before submission to the Permanent Secretary.
Quarterly compliance reports will be mandatory, with enforcement bolstered by collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police where necessary.
Tinaye Agere
I hope this is not just easy talk because we are under siege by these holier than thou worshippers. They behave like they have monopoly over praying. You find one shouting into an amplifier to people very close to him or her. Whoever told them that praying is shouting into amplifiers made the mistake.