Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Govt lifts moratorium on town planning – herald

Remember Deketeke

Municipal Correspondent

GOVERNMENT has lifted the moratorium on planning processes for local authorities and is rolling out a structured programme to strengthen town planning systems across the country, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has said.

The moratorium, which had been imposed in 2025, prevented local authorities from processing or approving any applications related to change of land use or reservation for 90 days.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Spatial Planners’ Interface with town planners from all 92 local authorities yesterday, Minister Garwe said the decision to lift the moratorium follows a comprehensive review of the performance of councils and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

“The moratorium was born as a result of cases where individuals and companies would apply for change of land use or reservation, which then gave rise to the mushrooming of service stations, casinos and bottle stores all over our cities and towns,” he said.

“This created serious problems, including health concerns and we said let us put a moratorium in place.”

Minister Garwe said most local authorities had since aligned their systems with approved master plans and statutory instruments, allowing for the controlled resumption of applications for change of land use and reservations.

“As we speak right now, there are very few local authorities that still have that challenge. The majority have approved their master plans and have reconfigured their planning processes,” he said.

“It is no longer business as usual. Applications are now being processed in terms of master plans, local development plans and the dictates of the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Councils Act.”

Minister Garwe said Government had turned its focus to engagement rather than blame, bringing together planners from across the country to address systemic challenges.

“We said we do not want to get into a blame mode. Let us sit down and engage our town planners, interface with them and understand what challenges they are facing and how best we can resolve them,” he said.

He added that Government had moved to institutionalise planning functions across all local authorities.

“We have now established departments of town planning in every local authority, including rural district councils,” said Minister Garwe.

“These officers are going to be promoted from just being town planners to directors of planning in their respective local authorities.”

Cabinet has also directed the resumption of structured training programmes for local authority staff, the Minister said, noting many officers are recently graduated and lack practical grounding in local governance.

“Cabinet has made the decision that we must restart training of our staff in local authorities on local governance,” he said.

“Most of these officers are fresh from college and universities, with academic training but without practical grounding in local governance issues.”

The post Govt lifts moratorium on town planning appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Harare moves to merge kombi associations – herald

Remember Deketeke

Herald Correspondent

HARARE City Council is finalising a major overhaul of the capital’s commuter omnibus sector that will see more than 20 associations merged into a single umbrella body, in a bid to restore order to the city’s increasingly chaotic public transport system.

The proposed restructuring, which will create one central association supported by up to six affiliates, is aimed at improving regulation, easing congestion in the central business district and bringing discipline to a sector long blamed for disorder on the city’s roads.

The initiative follows engagements between the National Public Passenger Transport Associations’ leadership and council authorities.

Last month, the group, led by its chairperson Mr Ngoni Katsvairo, met Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume to push for a council resolution, the enactment of a supporting by-law and the introduction of service level agreements to formalise operations.

In an interview, Clr  Mafume said the proliferation of associations had made it difficult for the council to effectively regulate the sector.

“We have too many associations operating in Harare, and that makes regulation extremely difficult,” he said.

“The idea now is for them to come under one umbrella, with a few affiliates responsible for self-regulation.”

Under the proposed model, the affiliates will oversee compliance within their ranks, while the council strengthens statutory enforcement.

“We have engaged the leadership to create one umbrella association for Harare, with about four to six affiliates that can handle the self-regulatory component of public transport,” said Clr Mafume.

“Council will then complement that with a statutory regulatory framework.”

Consultations with police and other stakeholders are ongoing, with authorities expecting to finalise the framework by the end of the month.

Once implemented, the system is also expected to improve management of commuter ranks and unlock investment in modern transport infrastructure.

“Once we are clear on who is operating and paying rank discs, we can attract investors to build proper facilities, including modern ranks,” Clr Mafume said.

“At the moment, commuters are exposed to the elements due to inadequate infrastructure.”

In a letter to the council, the associations said the worsening disorder in the sector — particularly in the CBD — required urgent intervention.

“The disorder in the public transport sector in Harare, particularly in the CBD, has drawn the attention of the highest office and now requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders,” reads part of the letter.

The group also renewed its long-standing proposal to replicate the more organised public transport model used in Bulawayo.

“Since 2015, we have been proposing the Bulawayo system to be introduced in Harare with no success, but we believe it is now time to restore order through such a framework,” the letter said.

Harare has in recent years seen a surge in informal pick-up points, with commuter omnibuses loading passengers at traffic lights, intersections and roundabouts, effectively turning road junctions into makeshift ranks.

This has worsened congestion while exposing commuters to rain and heat due to the lack of proper facilities.

Mr Katsvairo welcomed the move to formalise operations through legislation.

“It is very positive that associations’ operations are being legalised through a by-law and statutory instrument. This is something we have been engaging the council on for over a decade,” he said.

He noted that out of more than 18 000 public service vehicles operating in Harare, only about 5 400 are currently registered.

“It is important that the new framework allows operators to register under associations of their choice while contributing to order and sanity in the city,” he said.

The post Harare moves to merge kombi associations appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Harare moves to merge kombi associations – herald

Remember Deketeke

Herald Correspondent

HARARE City Council is finalising a major overhaul of the capital’s commuter omnibus sector that will see more than 20 associations merged into a single umbrella body, in a bid to restore order to the city’s increasingly chaotic public transport system.

The proposed restructuring, which will create one central association supported by up to six affiliates, is aimed at improving regulation, easing congestion in the central business district and bringing discipline to a sector long blamed for disorder on the city’s roads.

The initiative follows engagements between the National Public Passenger Transport Associations’ leadership and council authorities.

Last month, the group, led by its chairperson Mr Ngoni Katsvairo, met Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume to push for a council resolution, the enactment of a supporting by-law and the introduction of service level agreements to formalise operations.

In an interview, Clr  Mafume said the proliferation of associations had made it difficult for the council to effectively regulate the sector.

“We have too many associations operating in Harare, and that makes regulation extremely difficult,” he said.

“The idea now is for them to come under one umbrella, with a few affiliates responsible for self-regulation.”

Under the proposed model, the affiliates will oversee compliance within their ranks, while the council strengthens statutory enforcement.

“We have engaged the leadership to create one umbrella association for Harare, with about four to six affiliates that can handle the self-regulatory component of public transport,” said Clr Mafume.

“Council will then complement that with a statutory regulatory framework.”

Consultations with police and other stakeholders are ongoing, with authorities expecting to finalise the framework by the end of the month.

Once implemented, the system is also expected to improve management of commuter ranks and unlock investment in modern transport infrastructure.

“Once we are clear on who is operating and paying rank discs, we can attract investors to build proper facilities, including modern ranks,” Clr Mafume said.

“At the moment, commuters are exposed to the elements due to inadequate infrastructure.”

In a letter to the council, the associations said the worsening disorder in the sector — particularly in the CBD — required urgent intervention.

“The disorder in the public transport sector in Harare, particularly in the CBD, has drawn the attention of the highest office and now requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders,” reads part of the letter.

The group also renewed its long-standing proposal to replicate the more organised public transport model used in Bulawayo.

“Since 2015, we have been proposing the Bulawayo system to be introduced in Harare with no success, but we believe it is now time to restore order through such a framework,” the letter said.

Harare has in recent years seen a surge in informal pick-up points, with commuter omnibuses loading passengers at traffic lights, intersections and roundabouts, effectively turning road junctions into makeshift ranks.

This has worsened congestion while exposing commuters to rain and heat due to the lack of proper facilities.

Mr Katsvairo welcomed the move to formalise operations through legislation.

“It is very positive that associations’ operations are being legalised through a by-law and statutory instrument. This is something we have been engaging the council on for over a decade,” he said.

He noted that out of more than 18 000 public service vehicles operating in Harare, only about 5 400 are currently registered.

“It is important that the new framework allows operators to register under associations of their choice while contributing to order and sanity in the city,” he said.

The post Harare moves to merge kombi associations appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Heroes leave legacy of discipline, humility – herald

Joseph Madzimure

Zimpapers Politics Hub

MULTITUDES of mourners turned the National Heroes Acre into a sea of people yesterday as the nation paid tribute to three of its finest: Major General (Retired) Dr Herbert Chingono, Cdes Elison Mupamawonde and Cosmas Chiringa.

The turnout was so large that some mourners were on tree branches for a better view while others gathered under the shade — a clear sign of the affection and respect the nation holds for three national heroes.

It was a day to honour lives spent in service to the country and the atmosphere combined solemnity with a clear sense of pride.

Family members, fellow patriots, Government officials, traditional leaders and citizens from across the country, came together to remember the men who had been central to Zimbabwe’s liberation and its post-independence development.

Such a triple interment is uncommon — only the fourth since Independence — and that underscored the weight of the occasion.

Crowds remembered previous collective burials, recalling Lieutenant General (Rtd) Dr Sibusiso Moyo, Cde Joel Biggie Matiza and Major General (Rtd) Paradzai Zimondi, the grouping of Cde Nash Nyasha Dzimiri, Brigadier-General Shadreck Vezha and Cde Tsitsi Grace Jadagu, and the most recent set of burials for Major-General (Rtd) Solomon Siziba, Cde Chenhamo Chakezha Chimutengwende and Ambassador John Shumba Mvundura.

This continuity of honour places the three latest national heroes in a long line of leaders who shaped the nation.

Political and civic groups were out in force.

Zanu PF affiliate organisations; from BoysDzamudhara to Young Women for ED and Fathers for ED, kept the mood buoyant with revolutionary songs that rang out from the start of the proceedings to the end.

Their chants and rhythms added a communal energy to the formal rites, a reminder that these were not just personal losses, but national moments of recognition.

Relatives and colleagues described the three national heroes as intelligent, steadfast, committed to education and devoted to justice and national sovereignty.

Those personal recollections brought the public honours down to human scale.

Air Vice Marshal Biltim Chingono, brother to Maj-Gen (Rtd) Chingono, spoke warmly of his sibling’s values and the family’s gratitude for the recognition.

“Even during the liberation struggle, he maintained principles of compassion, humility and discipline,” he said, noting how those qualities guided Herbert throughout his life.

The family was “profoundly moved” by the national hero status conferred by President Mnangagwa, and Air Vice Marshal Chingono, thanked the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for their support.

“We thank the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for walking with him, even to his final day,” he added.

For Cde Chiringa, the picture offered by his daughter, Ms Kudakwashe Chingono, was of a quiet, steady man for whom education mattered.

“He was a quiet man who had a strong belief in education. After the war, he never stopped learning and encouraging those around him to go to school,” she said.

She described his heroism not only in military terms, but in how he loved and cared for his family.

“To us, his children, his heroism was not only in the liberation struggle but in the way he loved our mother, the way he raised us, and took care of the family,” she said, and expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed on him.

Cde Chiringa’s long service in public administration was highlighted by Zanu PF Women’s League Secretary for Administration Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, who worked with him in Manicaland when he served as District Administrator.

“He was a seasoned public administrator and servant of the people of Zimbabwe who working tirelessly for the emancipation of the people,” she said, celebrating his dedication during and after the struggle.

Cde Mupamawonde was remembered as a committed fighter whose sacrifice helped secure the country’s independence.

His brother, Mr Peter Mushayavanhu, paid a moving tribute, calling him “the family’s father figure and pillar of strength.”

“He fought for the truth. My brother loved his family and country,” said Mr Mushayavanhu, who also thanked the nation’s leadership for recognising his brother’s contribution with national hero status.

Taken together, the tributes painted a picture of three men who shared common virtues: discipline, humility, dedication and an unwavering commitment to service.

Maj-Gen (Rtd) Chingono’s role in the liberation struggle, Cde Chiringa’s record of public service and Cde Mupamawonde’s contributions to the armed struggle and national defence were all recalled with respect.

As the ceremonies concluded and the crowds dispersed, there was a sense that these men’s examples would continue to guide the nation.

Their lives were held up as models not only of bravery but of quiet integrity; qualities many said are needed as the country works towards unity, development and its Vision 2030 goals.

Though they are gone, their legacy lives on, carried by family memories, institutional honours and the collective voice of a nation that paused to say thank you.

The post Heroes leave legacy of discipline, humility appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

MINING giant Rio Zim have upped their fight for control of Sengwa’s coal fields with a High Court application challenging the decision by the Ministry of Mines through the permanent secretary to cancel their mining special grant and giving it to a rival firm.

The company which has been in control of the coal fields for more than four decades and invested over US$5 million in exploration and feasibility studies, argues that the Special Grant has been unlawfully cancelled and that only the President had the power of cancelling the Special Grant No. 849 for Sengwa Colliery, a key coal asset which was then given to George Mining Private Limited, by the Ministry.

Through their lawyer Admire Rubaya, Sengwa Colliery described the cancellation of their mining special grant in August 2025 by the ministry as “a story of power, impropriety, and the profound betrayal of a national trust, ripped away in a matter of weeks through a process so tainted by illegality, haste, and disregard for the rule of law. . .”

Sengwa Colliery further argues that under the country’s laws only the President has the power to cancel a special mining grant and only after giving at least 12 months’ notice, adding that no such notice was issued and contends that the cancellation was therefore unlawful.

“In cancelling the Special Grant, the ministry did not merely err, they committed a brazen usurpation of executive authority and further compounded this illegality by irrationally handing over this multi-generational asset to the 5th Respondent (George Mining) an entity whose financial substance and technical capacity remain, conspicuously and tellingly, a mystery hidden from this Court.

“The rule of law is not subordinate to administrative caprice, and that titles granted through a process rooted in nullity are themselves void. Applicants ask the Court to stand as a bastion against the erosion of property rights and the shadowy re-allocation of national resources,” their papers read.

“Of the six Respondents, five have elected not to oppose. Only the 5th Respondent, the direct beneficiary of the impugned conduct has come forward to defend the indefensible.

“The silence of the ministry is deafening, as it is damning. It constitutes a tacit, unequivocal concession that the Applicant’s allegations are true and that their own conduct cannot withstand judicial scrutiny.”

Read the original article on 263Chat.

The post Rio Zim Challenges Cancellation of 40-Year Mining Grant appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.