70 masterplans await AG approval in Harare

Zimbabwe expects to approve 70 local authority master plans by early next year after officials complete legal reviews at the Attorney General’s Office. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said on Tuesday that councils submitted the documents from a total of 90 authorities participating in the process, while Mutare and Bulawayo had finished their plans before the initiative began. The remaining 20 authorities are resolving boundary disputes and infrastructure conflicts that delayed submission.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered all councils to develop the planning documents to prevent disorganized settlements and guide urban expansion under the National Development Strategy 1. Garwe said the government rejects any construction outside approved zones once authorities gazette the master plans, and the frameworks will help attract investment through clear land-use guidelines. The documents include aerial photographs, maps, and statistical data covering water supply, road networks, housing, environmental management, and transport systems for future growth.