New master plans to revolutionise land use, economy

Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]

THE Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planners (Zirup) believes that President Mnangagwa’s “Call to Action”, which mandates local authorities to establish master plans, will significantly enhance the innovative use of spatial planning, leading to more appropriate land use and fostering economic growth across the nation.

This assertion was made on Friday in Bulawayo during the inaugural Master Plan Review Process for the southern region, involving 27 local authorities. The workshop was specifically organised to assess compliance with President Mnangagwa’s “Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery” blueprint, issued in November 2023.

During the event, Zirup Vice President Mr Shelton Sithole described the initiative as a “revolution” in how local authorities approach national planning. He emphasised that this visionary undertaking, conceived from President

E.D. Mnangagwa’s bold Call to Action and realised through the Ministry of Local Government’s leadership, marks a pivotal moment for Zimbabwe’s future development.

Mr Sithole paid special tribute to the Ministry’s directors, whose “tireless dedication” has successfully transformed policy into tangible progress.

“Your teams haven’t just conducted a review, they have set a new gold standard for urban planning excellence that will resonate across Zimbabwe for generations.

“What we witnessed today is more than mere compliance; it’s the birth of a new era where spatial planning has become the cornerstone of national development. Through your work, you’ve elevated our profession from technical practitioners to nation-builders, ensuring every hectare of our beloved Zimbabwe is optimised for sustainable prosperity,” Mr Sithole said.

He further elaborated on the significance of the undertaking.

“We appreciate this comprehensive master plan preparation, participatory and transparent review, believing that nationwide master plans create a unified development framework that synchronizes urban growth, rural transformation, infrastructure investment, and environmental protection across all 92 local authorities — turning Zimbabwe’s rural and urban areas into interconnected engines of equitable socio-economic productivity rather than competing fragments of ad-hoc development.”

Spatial planning, as he clarified, refers to the methods and approaches used to influence the distribution of people and activities across various scales. It is an interdisciplinary field that addresses the spatial arrangement and development of living, working and environmental conditions, considering what can and should happen in specific areas by investigating the interaction of different policies and practices within regional space.

Mr Sithole therefore urged the Government, through its ministries, to now prioritise and mobilise the essential financial resources, technical expertise, and institutional support needed to fully implement these transformative Master Plans. This, he stated, would turn visionary proposals into tangible realities that will reshape Zimbabwe’s rural and urban landscape for generations to come.

He also commended the technocrats, who demonstrated exceptional rigour in providing situational analyses and policy proposals for diverse sectors, including tourism, energy, mining, infrastructure, water, agriculture, ICT, health, climate resilience, SMEs, sports, recreation and cultural development.

“This data is the bedrock for Regional Plans and a National Master Plan and will propel Zimbabwe’s development agenda forward. The comprehensive data gathered through this landmark exercise has now made achievable what was once only aspirational: the implementation of true Regional Plans as envisioned under the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act.

“This represents more than just technical progress; it marks our nation’s decisive shift from fragmented local planning to integrated regional development, where shared resources, coordinated infrastructure, and complementary land uses across local authority boundaries will drive sustainable growth for entire provinces,” he said.

Mr Sithole applauded the local authorities that have heeded the call to establish fully-fledged Spatial Planning and Land Management Departments, complete with the necessary tools and personnel. He stressed that the benefits of professional planning are undeniable and urged local authorities to prioritise this transition, not merely as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic investment.

“We commend the Ministry of Local Government for its visionary steps, including the Zimbabwe Urban Transformation Policy — a blueprint to combat chaotic urbanisation, direct infrastructure investment and build resilient cities.

“We particularly applaud the Minister, Honourable Daniel Garwe’s decisive leadership in instituting the 90-day moratorium on land-use changes across all local authorities.

“This bold intervention creates a critical window to reset our rural and urban development trajectory — allowing us to weed out irregularities, align with sustainable planning principles, and restore public trust in our land governance systems.”