SIMBARASHE MTEMBO

MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe has ordered local authorities to give all Zimbabweans an opportunity to inspect draft masterplans that will go on public display this September or they would not be approved. Garwe said the masterplan drafting processes are critical and all Zimbabweans, including those living in the Diaspora must get an opportunity to participate. Speaking in an interview with The Mirror this week, Garwe said it’s mandatory that local authorities extensively advertise their public inspection periods in their local media and on websites so that all Zimbabweans including those living in the Diapora are notified of the process. “One of the requirements and in order that everyone is involved, is for council to advertise the draft-masterplan in a newspaper circulating in its area in accordance with Regional and Country Planning Act. Draft masterplans that fail to go through this process will not be approved,” said Garwe. Some 88 draft-masterplans have so far been submitted by local authorities and assessed by the Ministry and these will go on public display for 60 days once the Ministry completes consolidation of its detailed comments. The masterplans are blueprints that will guide development in a town or district for a period of 15 or 20 years. The detailed comments have two primary facets, the Ministry’s assessment comments and a laid down procedure that councils must follow when putting the draft masterplans on public display. Public inspection is expected to start anytime in September. Zimbabwe has 92 local authorities comprising rural district councils, towns and cities. Except for Harare and Chitungwiza which are not yet ready, all local authorities have submitted their drafts to the Minister while Mutare and Bulawayo did their masterplans in 2022 and 2023. “Council shall advertise in a newspaper circulating in its area advising stakeholders that the plan has now been put on public display. The advert will provide information on specific office they can find the hard copy of the draft master plan and the times which the members of the public would be required to come and inspect the master plan. “In addition, our teams will be following progress to ensure that councils advertise to invite stakeholders to inspect the masterplans. Every comment or input whether Daniel Garwe. made physically or electronically will be presented in the refined drafts when they are submitted for my approval… “As I have already alluded failure to go through the process of public inspection means the draft plan which will submitted for approval will not be approved,” said Garwe. He said he would want proof that there was enough awareness of the process and the masterplan was accessible. He added that teams from the Ministry will also be monitoring to ensure that the process is done appropriately. When the public inspection period is over, teams from the Ministry and and reasons are also noted quoting necessary provisions as stated in the relevant Act. councils will look at the contributions made by stakeholders. The submissions will be factored in or disregarded using appropriate provisions of the relevant Act. Completion of the final draft will vary from one council to the other depending on how quickly they factor in submissions made by stakeholders during the display period. “Further, when the drafts are submitted for approval, they would have all the comments and reasons why changes were made or were not made. The teams will look at each and every contribution and make adjustments where necessary on the masterplans. Every change or disregard of a comment is noted down, “The deadline which was there was for local authorities to have submitted their draft master plans was by 30 June 2024. As for the final draft, it depends on the speed of processed post the mandatory 60 days inspection period. As I have outlined progress will depend on the pace at which local authorities make changes and also the time which the Ministry will take to ensure that all the changes were inputted and properly taken into consideration in the submitted plan,” he said.