Parliament declines to intervene in Magwegwe West land dispute

Parliament has dismissed a petition from residents of Magwegwe West in Bulawayo seeking intervention in a protracted land dispute with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), citing that the matter falls outside its constitutional powers.

The affected residents, who purchased residential stands from BCC in 2016, have been unable to commence construction due to ongoing legal wrangles between the council and a contracted developer. In November, frustrated by delays, the residents began erecting makeshift shelters on the unserviced plots, vowing to occupy the land until the council fulfilled its contractual obligations.

Seeking to resolve the impasse, the group submitted a petition to Parliament requesting assistance. However, Speaker Jacob Mudenda confirmed that the petition could not be entertained.

"On the 4th of December 2025, Parliament received a petition from the Magwegwe West home seekers beseeching Parliament to solve the contractual land dispute," Mudenda stated. "The petition was deemed inadmissible because it requested Parliament to perform a duty that is beyond its constitutional mandate. The petitioners were also advised accordingly."

With Parliament declining to intervene, the residents remain without a clear path forward, as the legal dispute between BCC and the contractor continues. The city council recently confirmed that it cannot halt the construction of temporary shelters on the site because control of the land remains with the contractor involved in the court case, leaving homeowners in prolonged uncertainty.