Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has challenged urban and regional planners to move beyond producing planning documents that gather dust on office shelves and instead focus on implementing practical solutions that transform communities.
Speaking during the Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planners (ZIRUP) Annual School Conference 2026 in Bulawayo recently, Minister Garwe said the success of urban planning should be measured by tangible improvements in people’s lives, including the development of orderly settlements, sustainable infrastructure and economically productive communities.
He challenged professionals in the planning sector to prioritise implementation, accountability and partnerships, saying the country needed to translate policies and development aspirations into visible results.
“I challenge you to focus on three priorities: implementation, accountability and partnership. On implementation, planning success should not be judged by the number of documents produced but by the extent to which those plans improve people’s living conditions,” said Minister Garwe.
He urged planners to ensure that their work resulted in tangible developments rather than remaining theoretical exercises confined to offices and conference presentations.
The minister also called for strengthened professional integrity, development control and institutional performance, saying accountability was essential in ensuring that planning processes delivered the intended outcomes.
He said Government, local authorities, planners, developers and communities needed to work together in addressing challenges affecting urban development.
The call for stronger collaboration comes as Zimbabwe continues to pursue orderly urban development, improved service delivery and sustainable settlements in line with the country’s Vision 2030 aspirations.
Urban and regional planners have a critical role in guiding settlement development, ensuring that land is properly utilised and that infrastructure and public services are considered in development plans.
Minister Garwe challenged delegates to ensure that the conference produced practical recommendations capable of influencing decision-making and improving planning practices beyond the conference halls.
He said the country’s development agenda required professionals who were prepared to translate policy commitments into action.
Drawing lessons from the biblical account of Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Minister said successful reconstruction required vision, organisation and collective commitment.
He also invoked the parable of the wise builder, which emphasises the importance of laying strong foundations for lasting success.
“Our responsibility is therefore clear: to plan wisely, govern responsibly and implement decisively,” he said.
Minister Garwe said Zimbabwe must work towards creating settlements that are orderly, economically productive, environmentally sustainable and inclusive.
He challenged planners to embrace a results-oriented approach that would help address the country’s development needs while supporting the national vision of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“Let us move from vision to action, from policy to implementation, and from plans to places. This is what Vision 2030, NDS1 and NDS2 require us to do,” said Minister Garwe.
