Parliament urges action on Hwange’s dual-administration dispute
Parliamentary Watch
HARARE — Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has called for action to resolve Hwange’s dual-administration dispute, recommending a roadmap that could place the concession area under a unified local authority by the end of 2026.
The committee’s report follows a petition by Hwange residents Tinashe Matika and Nkosikhona Sibanda, who raised concern over an arrangement affecting people living in the Hwange Concession area. The report says 11 wards are administered by Hwange Rural District Council, while their elected councillors sit within Hwange Local Board.
The committee described the arrangement as a “governance puzzle”, saying it creates uncertainty over responsibility for public services, planning and local accountability. About 20,000 residents are affected, according to the report, and are excluded from the local board’s service-delivery mandate despite being represented by councillors associated with it.
Residents and petitioners argued that incorporation into Hwange Local Board could improve access to modern housing, coordinated service delivery and government development funding, including devolution funds. Hwange Local Board supported incorporation, saying it would help address uncoordinated development, strengthen land-use planning and improve traffic management.
But the proposal faces legal, financial and operational obstacles. Hwange Colliery Company Limited, which owns the concession land and provides municipal-type services and subsidies to residents, warned against compulsory incorporation without compensation. The company said the transfer could affect infrastructure and other assets, including roads and utilities, and could undermine its operational stability.
The committee said any transfer must comply with Section 71 of the Constitution, which protects property rights. It recommended that HCCL receive just and adequate compensation for assets affected by any incorporation process.
Hwange Rural District Council also opposed an abrupt change, arguing that it could disrupt its local economic development strategy and planning arrangements. Some residents similarly expressed concern that moving to the local board could mean higher rates and the loss of subsidies currently provided by the colliery company.
The report said the Hwange Local Board would need additional capacity before it could assume full responsibility for the 11 wards. It called for a structured transition, stakeholder consultation and consensus among affected institutions, residents and landowners.
The committee recommended that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works establish a commission of inquiry by June 30, 2026, to assess the feasibility of unifying Hwange’s administration. It also urged the ministry to review and resolve inconsistencies arising from the 2022 Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delimitation report by December 31, 2026.
The committee further recommended that the incorporation process be completed by December 31, 2026. It said a unified administration could enable Hwange to access national funding streams, improve infrastructure planning and support the town’s development.
National Railways of Zimbabwe said it would not object to incorporation, provided its land ownership and future development plans are protected.
The committee concluded that Hwange could develop into a stronger urban industrial centre and potentially attain municipal status, but said progress would depend on planning, constitutional compliance and a transition that protects services, property rights and local livelihoods.
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