Zim GBC News | Midlands Correspondent
SHURUGWI – Shurugwi Town Council is battling an acute shortage of land for housing development, with extensive mining activities—including illegal operations on already serviced residential stands—severely constraining the town’s expansion.
Speaking during a tour by the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, Shurugwi Town Council Secretary Archbold Ncube revealed that the local authority has virtually exhausted its land bank and is now being forced to source residential land from neighbouring Tongogara Rural District Council.
“As Shurugwi Town Council, we do not have enough land for future residential stand allocation programmes,” Ncube said.
“This will only end after the coming into effect of our Master Plan. We are currently outsourcing land from Tongogara Rural District Council.”
Ncube disclosed that four land developers are currently servicing 1 843 stands, but progress has been severely disrupted by miners operating within the designated residential area.
“We have the challenge of illegal miners operating on serviced stands,” he said.
“They are producing recent mining certificates, yet council acquired this land a long time ago. We are appealing to the Minister of State’s Office to address the issue.”
Ncube expressed hope that the pending Master Plan would unlock vast tracts of land the council is targeting for acquisition.
Minister Owen Ncube, who also toured MIPF Mall, Impali Source Farm and Scenic Hotel, said his office had received numerous complaints from residents over delays in the allocation of residential stands.
“I am concerned that the last direct land allocation by this local authority was done in 2019,” Minister Ncube said.
“Since then, allocation has been done through land developers who demand upfront cash payments, leaving behind people living with disabilities and civil servants who cannot afford expensive stands.”
He urged the council to prioritise special groups, including persons with disabilities and civil servants, in future allocations.
The Minister also directed council to firmly apply the law and engage the Ministry of Mines to address mining activities encroaching on residential land.
“I urge STC to apply the law regarding mining activities being carried out by miners in areas where land is being developed,” he said.
“I also urge you to approach the Ministry of Mines for assistance.”
Despite the challenges, Minister Ncube expressed satisfaction with the level of infrastructure development taking place in the town.
“I am, however, pleased with the level of development I am seeing here. There is a functional sewer system, water infrastructure and well-serviced roads. There is massive housing and commercial development, which I did not expect to see at this scale,” he said.
The stand allocation backlog and the invasion of residential land by miners remain pressing challenges for Shurugwi, with residents growing increasingly impatient for lasting solutions.
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