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Mnangagwa unveils new land policies and service standards
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially launched the Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework and the Urban State Land Management Policy, ushering in what government officials have called a new era in land administration and public service delivery in Zimbabwe's urban areas.
The twin policy blueprints were unveiled at the 4th edition of the "All Local Authorities Indaba" in Harare, held under the theme "Benchmarking service delivery towards attainment of Vision 2030." The event drew over 3,000 councillors from all 92 local authorities across the country, and was attended by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and several Cabinet ministers.
In his foreword to the Urban State Land Management Policy document, President Mnangagwa said the framework marks a major step in the sustainable and equitable administration of urban land, at a time when cities and towns are facing unprecedented population growth and demand for land. He noted that the country had seen chaotic urban expansion in recent years, partly due to outdated planning models, speculative land dealings, and the unchecked influence of so-called "land barons."
"It becomes imperative that Government provides a framework that fosters the sustainable and equitable utilisation of this finite resource, one of the principal pillars underpinning national development," said President Mnangagwa. He acknowledged that previous policies helped redress historical land access imbalances but also resulted in irregular and dysfunctional settlements that have stretched infrastructure and service delivery systems in many urban areas.
He welcomed the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works' move to address policy and administrative gaps in land management, adding that the reforms are meant to restore order and ensure urban land is used productively and transparently.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe said the two newly launched policies were a direct response to President Mnangagwa's earlier call for a fundamental overhaul of service delivery systems under the "Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery" initiative launched in 2023. He announced that local authority Master Plans are now 100 percent complete, and the Government has lifted a moratorium on land sales following the adoption of the Urban State Land Policy.
To bring greater order to urban development, Garwe also confirmed the introduction of a moratorium on changes in land use and reservations. This, he said, will ensure all future land allocations are guided by structured, planned growth in line with Vision 2030 targets.
Minister Garwe commended the dedication of local authority officials and stakeholders who contributed to the policies, noting that the extensive consultation process had laid a strong foundation for successful implementation. He confirmed that all 92 local authorities are now entering the operational phase of both the Urban State Land Management Policy and the Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, also addressed the gathering, describing the launch as a milestone in the country's quest for accountable and equitable public services. She said the new frameworks would promote transparency, citizen empowerment, and consistent service standards across municipalities.
"Today's launch is not just a ceremonial event. It is a bold statement of our collective commitment to parity, transparency, accountability, and equity in public service delivery," said Minister Ncube. She emphasized that setting minimum service delivery standards would ensure uniformity in performance expectations across all local authorities, while also empowering citizens to demand quality services.
The Indaba brought together key players from across Zimbabwe's urban governance ecosystem to share best practices, align on reforms, and strengthen the coordination required to achieve the government's Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by the end of the decade.
The Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework is designed to serve as a national benchmark for evaluating the performance of local authorities. Each council is expected to develop its own operational procedures that reflect its specific context while aligning with national standards and laws. These reforms are supported by the newly established Inspectorate Department within the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, which will monitor compliance and ensure accountability across local authorities.
According to government officials, the implementation of these policies signals the Second Republic's deepening commitment to building a performance-driven, citizen-centric local governance system. The ultimate goal is to improve service delivery, restore public trust in local authorities, and unlock the full economic potential of Zimbabwe's urban land.
The twin policy blueprints were unveiled at the 4th edition of the "All Local Authorities Indaba" in Harare, held under the theme "Benchmarking service delivery towards attainment of Vision 2030." The event drew over 3,000 councillors from all 92 local authorities across the country, and was attended by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and several Cabinet ministers.
In his foreword to the Urban State Land Management Policy document, President Mnangagwa said the framework marks a major step in the sustainable and equitable administration of urban land, at a time when cities and towns are facing unprecedented population growth and demand for land. He noted that the country had seen chaotic urban expansion in recent years, partly due to outdated planning models, speculative land dealings, and the unchecked influence of so-called "land barons."
"It becomes imperative that Government provides a framework that fosters the sustainable and equitable utilisation of this finite resource, one of the principal pillars underpinning national development," said President Mnangagwa. He acknowledged that previous policies helped redress historical land access imbalances but also resulted in irregular and dysfunctional settlements that have stretched infrastructure and service delivery systems in many urban areas.
He welcomed the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works' move to address policy and administrative gaps in land management, adding that the reforms are meant to restore order and ensure urban land is used productively and transparently.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe said the two newly launched policies were a direct response to President Mnangagwa's earlier call for a fundamental overhaul of service delivery systems under the "Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery" initiative launched in 2023. He announced that local authority Master Plans are now 100 percent complete, and the Government has lifted a moratorium on land sales following the adoption of the Urban State Land Policy.
To bring greater order to urban development, Garwe also confirmed the introduction of a moratorium on changes in land use and reservations. This, he said, will ensure all future land allocations are guided by structured, planned growth in line with Vision 2030 targets.
Minister Garwe commended the dedication of local authority officials and stakeholders who contributed to the policies, noting that the extensive consultation process had laid a strong foundation for successful implementation. He confirmed that all 92 local authorities are now entering the operational phase of both the Urban State Land Management Policy and the Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, also addressed the gathering, describing the launch as a milestone in the country's quest for accountable and equitable public services. She said the new frameworks would promote transparency, citizen empowerment, and consistent service standards across municipalities.
"Today's launch is not just a ceremonial event. It is a bold statement of our collective commitment to parity, transparency, accountability, and equity in public service delivery," said Minister Ncube. She emphasized that setting minimum service delivery standards would ensure uniformity in performance expectations across all local authorities, while also empowering citizens to demand quality services.
The Indaba brought together key players from across Zimbabwe's urban governance ecosystem to share best practices, align on reforms, and strengthen the coordination required to achieve the government's Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by the end of the decade.
The Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework is designed to serve as a national benchmark for evaluating the performance of local authorities. Each council is expected to develop its own operational procedures that reflect its specific context while aligning with national standards and laws. These reforms are supported by the newly established Inspectorate Department within the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, which will monitor compliance and ensure accountability across local authorities.
According to government officials, the implementation of these policies signals the Second Republic's deepening commitment to building a performance-driven, citizen-centric local governance system. The ultimate goal is to improve service delivery, restore public trust in local authorities, and unlock the full economic potential of Zimbabwe's urban land.
Source - The Chronicle
