President Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued a firm directive for the immediate completion of all unfinished development projects across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, in a bid to accelerate national progress and meet the country’s Vision 2030 objectives. The announcement was made by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe during a recent high-profile event in Harare.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new apartment hotel at Millennium Heights in Borrowdale—developed by West Properties and set to be managed by the international Radisson Hotel Group—Minister Garwe outlined the government’s renewed focus on streamlining urban development and resolving long-standing infrastructure delays.
Minister Garwe said Mnangagwa’s directive underscores the urgent need to unlock the economic potential of stalled and incomplete projects, which he described as “dead equity.”
“We have been given direction to complete all the remaining projects across the 10 provinces because it is dead equity and we are not generating any revenue. We must generate revenue by ensuring that we complete the projects,” he explained.
The Minister added that the government is taking decisive action to clean up the urban development sector, guided by the recently approved Urban State Land Management Policy. Under the new policy, land developers will no longer receive title deeds unless they have fully installed essential infrastructure, including water supply systems, sewerage networks, waste disposal, and roadways.
“This policy addresses key pillars including governance and decentralisation to ensure sanity in urban settlements,” said Garwe. “We inherited many legacy issues related to incomplete and unregulated developments, and this must now come to an end.”
Mnangagwa prioritises nationwide infrastructure completion to unlock economic value and support devolution
According to Garwe, Mnangagwa has reinforced the importance of inclusive, province-wide development, aligning with the broader goals of the government’s devolution agenda. He noted that infrastructure growth and investment should no longer be limited to Harare and a few urban centres.
“His Excellency has now, through Devolution, said it has to start in Murambinda, Muzarabani, Bulawayo—let us go into every corner and part of this country,” he stated.
As part of the government’s urban reform measures, no processing or approval of title deeds will take place without full compliance with infrastructure requirements. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, in collaboration with local authorities, will be responsible for verifying compliance before issuing any documentation.
“We will only approve the processing of title deeds for developments that have provided water, sewerage and waste management systems, road construction, and other necessary services,” Garwe affirmed.
Addressing the situation of informal settlements, the government is encouraging capable developers with the necessary technical and financial resources to approach local authorities. These developers may negotiate formalisation arrangements, which could include partial compensation through alternative land.
These steps reflect a broader effort by Mnangagwa’s administration to establish long-term sustainability in Zimbabwe’s urban development strategy, while also delivering essential services and infrastructure to underserved communities. The focus is not only on regulating urban growth but also on ensuring that every investment contributes to Zimbabwe’s economic stability and progress toward achieving Vision 2030.
As the country moves forward with this policy shift, analysts view Mnangagwa’s directive as a signal of the government’s determination to eliminate inefficiencies, revive dormant projects, and ensure that public and private developments deliver measurable returns for the nation. The coordinated push also aims to restore public confidence in local governance and enforce accountability across all levels of development planning.
With Zimbabwe targeting upper-middle-income status by 2030, the completion of critical infrastructure and urban projects is expected to play a central role in achieving that vision. Through this strategic call to action, Mnangagwa is reinforcing a results-driven governance model focused on inclusive growth and national transformation.
Source- Bulawayo24
