Mutare CBD expan­sion enters final pub­lic con­sulta­tion phase

Mutare City Council says plans to expand the city's Central Business District (CBD) are now at an advanced stage, with residents and stakeholders given until the end of June to submit comments during the public exhibition phase of the proposed local development plan.

The proposed expansion will significantly widen Mutare's commercial zone, extending the CBD from its current boundary at Seventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue and incorporating areas such as St Dominic's, Murambi Gardens Hospital and Robert Mugabe Road.

At present, the CBD stretches from End Avenue in the south to Seventh Avenue in the north, and from Sakubva River in the east to Nyapfumbi River in the west.

Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka said the new local plan is designed to replace outdated planning frameworks dating back to 1976, which no longer reflect the city's modern development needs.

"Previously, the city relied on town planning schemes prepared and approved in 1976, whose provisions no longer reflected the needs and demands of the current population. Hence the need for a local plan that meets these demands," he said.

The CBD Local Plan forms part of the broader Mutare Master Plan adopted by council in 2014 and approved in 2021 as a long-term framework for land development.

Mr Chafesuka said copies of the proposed plan have been placed at council offices in Sakubva, Hobhouse, Chikanga and Dangamvura for public inspection.

"We are now at the exhibition stage. The public can access the documents at these offices and submit comments, representations or objections in writing to council for consideration," he said.

Under the proposed changes, several areas previously reserved for residential use will be rezoned for commercial development.

Council says this will unlock new investment opportunities, allow construction of modern commercial buildings and increase property values in the affected areas.

"Properties previously zoned as residential, but now reclassified as commercial, will see an increase in value. That is a clear advantage for property owners and residents," Mr Chafesuka said.

The council also said the plan simplifies land-use changes by removing lengthy approval procedures previously required under the 1976 planning scheme.

"Those who want to construct cluster houses or offices can now proceed without additional approval. Previously, residents had to advertise, consult neighbours and sometimes face objections that delayed developments," he said.

Mr Chafesuka stressed that public participation remained critical before the plan is finalised and implemented.

"Stakeholder participation is essential because once the plan is approved, certain activities may be prohibited in specific areas. This reflects what we as a community would have agreed upon in the local development plan," he said.