Masterplans for all councils by June — President
ALL hands are on the deck to ensure that local authorities have approved masterplans by the end of June this year as directed by President Mnangagwa, as the Second Republic moves to curb sprouting chaotic haphazard settlements.
Illegal settlements had been mushrooming across the country especially in urban areas where councils like Harare are using an outdated 1993 masterplan resulting in the parcelling out of land in areas like wetlands, servitudes and communal areas.
A masterplan is an overall land use planning document, which constitutes policies and strategies regarding how land should be used and how developments should occur, looking at future water supplies, road networks, housing provision, environmental management and transport. Details are filled in with the appropriate local plans.
The master plan contains aerial photos, illustrations, maps, reports and statistical information to support the planning vision.
Speaking at the first of its kind interaction meeting of planners in Zimbabwe drawn from all the 92 local authorities and from professionals at district, provincial and national level, Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando said the deadline for masterplans will be met as only eight out of 92 councils had approved plans.
“Without an operative masterplan we cannot have a well functional city and you cannot plan for the improvement and delivery of services. We were given a deadline of June 30 by His Excellency.
“So, we are meeting with all the 92 local planners and would like to hear what assistance they require to achieve the objectives as set out by His Excellency,” he said.
Minister Chitando said through the blueprint launched by President Mnangagwa last year it was evident that it contained a number of service delivery matters, including the need for operative masterplans and functional town planning and land management departments in all local authorities by June 30, 2030.
“It is critical to highlight that this group of professional and competent planners drawn from the central Government and all local authorities shall be the drivers of this pillar of the blueprint.
“I expect stakeholders to take this opportunity and thoroughly interrogate the prevailing spatial planning challenges being experienced in both the urban and rural areas of our country as you are going through the master preparation process,” he said.
Minister Chitando said with the development of new technological innovations, mainly ICTs such as Geographical Information Systems, the concept of the “Smart City” could emerge as a means to achieve more efficient and sustainable cities.
“It is my clarion call that we embrace new planning strategies and concepts such as the compact, green and smart city concepts as we modernise our settlements. These strategies embrace new technologies and smart energy sources.
“Indeed urban areas or functional settlements need to manage their development, supporting economic competitiveness, while enhancing social cohesion, environmental sustainability and an increased quality of life of their citizens,” he said.
Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary John Basera said the Second Republic ushered in a plethora of initiatives to turn around the architecture and modus operandi regarding service delivery in Zimbabwe.
It was an honour to meet practicing professional planners in the local government fraternity rolling out together the blueprint: “Call to action: No compromise to service delivery”.
Chief director for spatial planning and development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Shingirayi Mushamba said President Mnangagwa made a call to action for all actors in the human settlement value chain to play varied but coordinated roles to achieve an upper middle-income society.
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