Govt moves to scrap colonial-era by-laws hindering investment

THE Government is implementing a raft of measures to unlock investment in local authorities, including a comprehensive review of archaic by-laws that have long stifled economic development and hindered the modernisation of urban centres across the country.

Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Albert Mavunga revealed this while addressing delegates at the Southern Africa Eco Infrastructure Summit 2026 in Victoria Falls on Wednesday.
He said the Ministry, working with the Attorney-General’s Office, is dismantling colonial-era legislation that has become an obstacle to progress.

“Point in case: an investor comes to invest in water meter and treatment of water, and the residents come up with a 1913 by-law which stops operations for an investor,” said Deputy Minister Mavunga.
“We are working with the Attorney General’s office and our local authorities to bring up all these by-laws that are archaic, that are pre-colonial, because they don’t apply in the 21st century.”

The 1913 by-law in question governs water provision in some cities and stipulates a post-payment system, effectively prohibiting the implementation of modern pre-paid water meters. Government’s intervention is aimed at removing this legislative hurdle to allow the adoption of new technologies that improve service delivery.

Deputy Minister Mavunga said the review forms part of the Government’s Zimbabwe is Open for Business policy, with reforms already being implemented to improve the ease of doing business.

He said Government has consolidated and significantly reduced licensing requirements, replacing what was previously a cumbersome process involving as many as 12 permits with a single, more affordable licence.

“In the spirit of leaving no one behind, I think it’s not fiction that Zimbabwe is open for business. It is true in every sense,” said Deputy Minister Mavunga.

“We have also produced a new framework for PPP (Public-Private Partnerships) as a way of expediting the process of approving partnerships within local authorities or with Government.”
Beyond legislative reforms, Government is introducing service delivery benchmarks aimed at modernising local authorities.

Deputy Minister Mavunga said Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026 has introduced minimum service delivery standards for councils, linking the performance of officials to measurable benchmarks while encouraging local authorities to prioritise service delivery through a recommended expenditure ratio of 70 percent on services and 30 percent on employment costs.

He said business licence fees have also been capped at US$500 per year, while parking fees have been standardised at US$0.50 per hour to create a more predictable operating environment for investors and businesses.

Government is also decentralising decision-making by allowing local authorities to approve investment opportunities that do not require central Government clearance, although strategic sectors and large-scale investments will continue to be processed at national level.

In line with the smart city agenda, the City of Victoria Falls is exploring partnerships with private companies, including Geo Pomona Waste Management, to implement waste-to-energy projects as part of efforts to promote sustainable infrastructure development and improve service delivery.