Online Reporter
Malven Mugadzikwa
The Chitungwiza business community has welcomed the recently approved Municipal Police and Courts Bill, 2026.
Chitungwiza Business Community Trust chairperson, Mr Tendai Mareya, said the bill has the potential to restore order, curb illegal trading, address land-related disputes and strengthen the enforcement of municipal by-laws.
This comes after Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Municipal Police and Courts Bill, 2026, during its weekly meeting.
Mr Mareya said the proposed legislation addresses long-standing challenges affecting businesses operating within local authorities.
“There are many business operators who pay rates to the local authority and obtain trading licences as required by law,” he said.
“However, there are individuals who simply position themselves in front of established shops and sell exactly the same products without paying council rates, licence fees or taxes to the Government.”
The absence of adequate enforcement mechanisms, he said, had disadvantaged compliant businesses, while encouraging the growth of informal and unregulated trading activities.
“We believe that if municipal police are given powers to arrest offenders and effectively enforce municipal by-laws, this practice can be significantly reduced,” said Mr Mareya.
“Law-abiding businesses should not continue to compete with people who operate outside the legal framework.”
Mr Mareya expressed optimism that the proposed municipal police would help address the activities of land barons.
“Chitungwiza has experienced challenges with land barons who illegally take over land and sell it at inflated prices,” he said. “At present, municipal police do not have sufficient powers to arrest such individuals or effectively enforce the law.
“Once they are empowered, we expect decisive action against the few land barons who continue to undermine orderly urban development.”
Mr Mareya noted that the Bill could provide a practical solution to disputes involving legitimately allocated residential stands, where beneficiaries are sometimes prevented from developing their properties despite possessing all the required documentation.
He raised concern over the growing influence of so-called space barons who allegedly allocate vending spaces to informal traders and small business operators without legal authority.
While expressing strong support for the Bill, Mr Mareya said effective implementation would require robust safeguards against corruption within local authorities.
He proposed that the legislation should be complemented by specialised anti-corruption structures capable of investigating corrupt municipal officials and officers.
Mr Mareya stressed the importance of professional capacity building, saying municipal police officers should undergo comprehensive training before assuming their responsibilities.
The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework allowing local authorities, including city councils, municipalities and town councils, to establish and operate municipal police and municipal courts.
It also provides for the establishment of municipal courts to handle by-law infractions, minor offences and traffic violations, presided over by municipal magistrates.
