Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
IN a bid to ensure cohesive and sustainable development across the country, Government has emphasised the need for synchronisation of local, provincial and national economic development plans following the submission of masterplans by local authorities.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday News, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Tafadzwa Muguti underscored the importance of aligning local master plans with broader provincial and national goals, particularly getting into the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Mr Muguti highlighted the current disconnect between some local authority master plans and the overarching economic objectives of the nation.
“We cannot have a situation where a local authority has a masterplan that does not consider the greater good of the nation and the province as a whole,” he said.
“For instance, if a province aims to increase industrial production by 25 percent, does the local master plan reflect this in its spatial planning? If the province is targeting a 10 percent increase in housing development, does the local plan address this over the next few years?”
Mr Muguti stressed that stakeholder consultation, while essential, is not enough and local plans must be rigorously validated against the Provincial Economic Development Plan to ensure alignment.
This, he argued, would create a unified provincial masterplan that integrates all facets of development, from industrial growth to housing and social infrastructure.
Mr Muguti also expressed concern over the continued rise of illegal developments particularly in ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands and spaces designated for schools and other social infrastructure.
“As we move into 2025, local authorities must adhere to these master plans. We cannot afford to have developments that undermine our environmental and social goals,” he said.
The call for harmonised planning comes at a pivotal moment as Zimbabwe advances its NDS2, a blueprint aimed at achieving an upper-middle-income status by 2030.
Mr Muguti stressed the need for local master plans to reflect the economic trajectory outlined in NDS2, ensuring that every development initiative contributes to the nation’s broader vision.
“By aligning our plans, we can avoid fragmented development and ensure that every project, whether at the local or provincial level, contributes to the collective prosperity of our nation,” he said.
As Zimbabwe strides towards its development goals, the emphasis on cohesive planning is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future.
In that regard, the Government has stepped up efforts to ensure each province drives its own economy from whatever resource and sector of the economy abound in it. This has seen officers from the Office of the President and Cabinet led by Permanent Secretary Muguti embarking on provincial tours to understand what makes each province tick.
The delegation is visiting companies that are thriving in the respective provinces to understand their value, the benefits that they give not only to the country but to the community as well.
The delegation also seeks to appreciate some of the Government policies if they are having a positive or negative effect on provincial economic development. — @nyeve14
Online Reporter