HLB Finalizes First Master Plan After Years of Delays

Mbekezeli Ncube

Hwange Local Board (HLB) is on the verge of completing its first-ever Master Plan, a crucial roadmap for the town’s future infrastructure development. The plan, years in the making, has overcome funding hurdles and a recent snag to finally reach its final stages.

Previously, HLB relied on a provincial draft plan, hindering long-term vision and coordinated development. However, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s directive for all local authorities to have approved Master Plans by June 30th, 2024, provided the necessary impetus for HLB to chart its own course.

“We brought on board consultant Mr. Gilbert Phiri to spearhead the Master Plan’s development,” explained Themba Sibanda, Director of Spatial Planning and Development for HLB. “We also conducted a stakeholder meeting and produced an inception report that was distributed to all relevant parties.”
This inception report has already been submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. Currently, Phiri is busy gathering data and finalizing the plan’s visual components.

A Master Plan serves as a comprehensive, long-term document outlining a conceptual framework for a town’s future growth and development. It goes beyond simply placing buildings; it considers the intricate connections between these structures, social spaces, and the surrounding environment.
“The Master Plan will essentially function as a land-use and infrastructure plan,” Sibanda elaborated. “It will detail our community’s aspirations, objectives, and the policies that will guide our growth or redevelopment over the next 20 to 30 years.”

HLB is taking a multi-pronged approach to development. In addition to the Master Plan, they are undertaking a Valuation Roll, a registry of properties within the town’s boundaries used for tax and rating purposes. “We requested valuers from the Ministry,” Sibanda added. “To determine the cost, the Ministry requested data on the number of developed and undeveloped stands in each suburb, categorized accordingly.” Furthermore, the council established a dedicated Department of Spatial Planning and Development, demonstrating their commitment to structured and sustainable growth.

Greater Hwange Residents Association Coordinator, Fidelis Chima, while acknowledging the progress made by HLB, expressed some concerns regarding potential loopholes in the Master Plan. “Our organization was certainly encouraged to see Hwange finally developing its own Master Plan, as mandated by the central government,” Chima stated. “However, a snag arose when the Hwange Colliery Company barred HLB from conducting consultations within their concession area. Chima fears this exclusion could result in an incomplete plan. “The majority of wards fall within the concession area,” he explained. “Without incorporating this significant area, the Master Plan might not fully represent the needs of the entire community.”

Hwange’s future is being planned, with the Master Plan acting as the cornerstone for its development. While challenges remain, HLB’s commitment and resident engagement are crucial to ensuring a truly comprehensive and inclusive roadmap for the town’s growth.