Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Correspondent
HARARE Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume says the city is working on a new strategic plan that dovetails with the Government’s Vision 2030.
Speaking at the City of Harare 2026 to 2030 Strategic Planning stakeholder consultation meeting at Golden Conifer today, Clr Mafume said the City of Harare’s 13-year strategic plan was coming to an end this December.
“We know that NDS1 is also coming to an end this December. We are now working on a new plan which wants to dovetail with the Government vision for 2030.
“So we need to align with documents or both visions or old visions so that we don’t move in opposite directions.
“We are also having the Harare masterplan that has to be completed this year, so it is very important that all this planning is done.”
Clr Mafume said the city believes significant change has happened in Harare since the time it formulated the strategy.
“When they formulated the strategy, we didn’t have Trabablas, we now have an interchange, Joina City, the new airport and many shopping centres that are there within the city,” he said.
“So there are things we didn’t have that were envisioned in that plan that were part of the roadmaps towards a world-class city.”
Clr Mafume said the new airport, shopping centres, accommodations coming up, buildings such as Joina City and other buildings compete very well with cities the world over.
“That is why we have brought you here to be able to listen and create a better city,” Mayor Mafume said.
“Where we have challenges is around water delivery, urban planning, and basic services. A lot of settlements have erupted since then, and these settlements do not have basic services, which are issues in a smart city. How do we make a digital and a smart city?”
Cllr Mafume said Harare cannot have municipal police and policemen running after motorists with spikes and baton sticks.
“We have got cameras installed at Harare Polytechnic and around the city. There are over 50 infringements in one hour at one traffic stop,” he said.
“So the one there is a hidden camera, and there is another one along Bishop Gaul, where accidents happen every morning. People are competing to disobey the law, but that can all stop if we create a smart city.”
Acting City of Harare town clerk Engineer Phakhamile Mabhena Moyo said in 2012, the city created an ambitious vision of achieving a world-class city status by 2025.
“This vision was anchored by a 13-year strategic plan from 2012 to 2025, which is coming to an end this year,” he said.
“And a new strategic plan, which sets the future’s direction, has to be developed. What we are going to discuss today and the days to follow will definitely shape the way our city will be run in the next 20 years, broken into 5-year strategic milestones.”
