News / National
Harare finalises Master Plan
7 hrs ago | Views
Harare City Council is on the brink of finalising a comprehensive new master plan, a pivotal development set to reshape the capital's urban landscape and bring order to decades of fragmented growth. The document is expected to receive full government approval before the end of the year.
City Chief Planner James Mazvimba confirmed the progress during an address at the Zimbabwe Real Estate Public Lecture, stating that over 80 percent of the written component is complete. The city is now entering the crucial proposal phase, in which development blueprints are being refined based on input from local authorities and urban planning studies.
"We should be through with the master plan in the shortest possible time," said Mazvimba. "On the 2nd of July, we are going to have a validation process with the government. In terms of timelines, it shouldn't take long. By year-end, we expect to have a functional, approved master plan document."
The plan, now in its final drafting stage, has been years in the making and is a direct response to a directive by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who called on all local authorities to replace outdated urban development frameworks. Harare's current master plan, created in 1994, is now widely viewed as obsolete in the face of massive population growth, informal settlements, and expanding infrastructure demands.
"The call to action by His Excellency was about addressing the outdatedness of our plans," said Mazvimba. "In Harare, the 1994 document still guides development, despite the city's vast changes since then. This master plan is our effort to reset and realign."
Key focus areas in the new plan include modern land use designation, integrated transport systems, infrastructure investment, and environmental sustainability. The goal, Mazvimba said, is to turn Harare into a modern, world-class city capable of meeting the needs of its current and future residents.
Once the plan is fully drafted, the public will be invited to participate in the process through consultations that will allow residents to provide feedback, suggest changes, and identify potential gaps in the proposals.
"After formulating the master plan, we'll present it to residents," he said. "They'll get a chance to review our proposals and suggest additions or corrections. If certain areas have been overlooked, the public will be able to raise those concerns."
Mazvimba underscored the critical role the plan will play in bringing coherence to Harare's development, particularly in light of recent challenges with unregulated construction, land disputes, and failing service delivery systems.
"A master plan guides and coordinates development. It helps ensure consistency and order in urban planning. Without it, you get the discord and disjointed development patterns we often see," he added.
With the validation process scheduled for early July and public consultations to follow, Harare is poised to adopt a long-overdue planning blueprint that could lay the foundation for a sustainable, well-managed future.
City Chief Planner James Mazvimba confirmed the progress during an address at the Zimbabwe Real Estate Public Lecture, stating that over 80 percent of the written component is complete. The city is now entering the crucial proposal phase, in which development blueprints are being refined based on input from local authorities and urban planning studies.
"We should be through with the master plan in the shortest possible time," said Mazvimba. "On the 2nd of July, we are going to have a validation process with the government. In terms of timelines, it shouldn't take long. By year-end, we expect to have a functional, approved master plan document."
The plan, now in its final drafting stage, has been years in the making and is a direct response to a directive by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who called on all local authorities to replace outdated urban development frameworks. Harare's current master plan, created in 1994, is now widely viewed as obsolete in the face of massive population growth, informal settlements, and expanding infrastructure demands.
"The call to action by His Excellency was about addressing the outdatedness of our plans," said Mazvimba. "In Harare, the 1994 document still guides development, despite the city's vast changes since then. This master plan is our effort to reset and realign."
Key focus areas in the new plan include modern land use designation, integrated transport systems, infrastructure investment, and environmental sustainability. The goal, Mazvimba said, is to turn Harare into a modern, world-class city capable of meeting the needs of its current and future residents.
Once the plan is fully drafted, the public will be invited to participate in the process through consultations that will allow residents to provide feedback, suggest changes, and identify potential gaps in the proposals.
"After formulating the master plan, we'll present it to residents," he said. "They'll get a chance to review our proposals and suggest additions or corrections. If certain areas have been overlooked, the public will be able to raise those concerns."
Mazvimba underscored the critical role the plan will play in bringing coherence to Harare's development, particularly in light of recent challenges with unregulated construction, land disputes, and failing service delivery systems.
"A master plan guides and coordinates development. It helps ensure consistency and order in urban planning. Without it, you get the discord and disjointed development patterns we often see," he added.
With the validation process scheduled for early July and public consultations to follow, Harare is poised to adopt a long-overdue planning blueprint that could lay the foundation for a sustainable, well-managed future.
Source - Business Times
