Chitungwiza eyes growth with town expansion project

Chitungwiza is gearing up for a major transformation aimed at shedding its longstanding image as merely a dormitory town for Harare and emerging as a self-sustaining, resilient urban centre by the year 2045.

This ambitious vision was unveiled last week by Chitungwiza Municipality's Director of Works, Mr. Talent Mushinga, during a workshop where local authorities across the Harare Metropolitan Province presented their draft master plans to Minister Charles Tavengwa.

Key highlights of Chitungwiza's Master Plan include the expansion of the Chitungwiza Town Centre, establishment of four commercial corridors along Seke, Hadzinanhanga, Mharapara, and Chaminuka roads, and development of six high-order commercial nodes in areas such as Chigovanyika-Huruyadzo, Unit L, Makoni, St Mary's Police Station, and Nyatsime. Additionally, three new commercial centres are planned for Nyatsime, Unit L Extension, and Damview.

Mr. Mushinga emphasised infrastructure upgrades as a central focus, including new road construction, rehabilitation works, installation of traffic signals, and paving connecting the Town Centre to Seke Road.

"The plan also envisions new health facilities, including a district hospital, four new clinics, and upgrades to four polyclinics, as well as the development of a new cemetery in Manyame through joint identification and collaboration," he said.

Further developments include high-order residential zones at Nyatsime College (western end) and Anglican Church Land (Tilcor Road), construction of a traffic circle linking new and existing roads, creation of a tourism-heritage trail, water and sewer system upgrades, a civic centre, and new parks and leisure facilities.

Mr. Mushinga explained that the 2045 Master Plan is designed to achieve infrastructure self-sufficiency, optimise land use, and foster integrated commercial corridors and nodes to enhance economic performance, social services, and public safety within Chitungwiza.

Implementation will follow a phased approach with short-, medium-, and long-term projects, each accompanied by cost estimates.

Despite hosting a major industrial area, Chitungwiza currently lacks a central business district and relies heavily on Harare for commercial activities and essential services such as treated water. The town's wastewater treatment system has been non-functional for years, and urban planning has struggled with challenges like land grabbing and informal settlements.

Minister Tavengwa highlighted that the Master Plans form part of the Second Republic's ongoing efforts to address challenges faced by local authorities.

"I am glad to report that out of the four local authorities, three  -  Chitungwiza, Epworth, and Ruwa  -  have submitted their plans, while Harare could not finalise its plan due to funding constraints. We are now in the consultation stage, engaging the general public," he said.

The Minister added that the exercise aligns with President Mnangagwa's 2023 "Call to Action – No Compromise to Service Delivery" plan, which aims to modernise local government operations and improve service delivery, targeting key milestones by 2030.

With this visionary roadmap, Chitungwiza looks set to redefine itself as a vibrant, autonomous urban centre driving economic growth and improved quality of life for its residents.