Ministry of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing

In 2007, the Minister of Rural Housing and Amenities was Emmerson Mnangagwa.

2009 to 2017, Saviour Kasukuwere ^{[2] [3]}

Daniel Garwe was appointed Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities in 2019.

Jennifer Mhlanga is the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing.

Following the 23-24 August 2023 elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced his new cabinet on 11 September 2023. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was headed by Winston Chitando. The Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities was Daniel Garwe with deputy Yeukai Simbanegavi. ^[4]

Since 2018

Departments Functions

Local Government

• Urban Local Authority services
• Rural Local Authority services
• Traditional Leadership Support Services
• Physical Planning services
• Civil Protection services

Public Works

• Architectural Services
• Engineering Services
• Quantity Surveying
• Construction and Maintenance
• Valuation and Estates Management Services
• National Housing and Social Amenities

Kombi

In March 2023, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works announced that passengers who are picked up or dropped off at undesignated stations in and around central business districts of towns and cities, will now be liable to US$30 fines. According to Statutory Instrument 41 of 2016 of the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs and Signals) Regulations, local authorities should ensure that signs are erected to prohibit pedestrians from being picked up and dropped off at undesignated points. Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesman Paul Nyathi, said the standard scale of fines gazetted will be enforced on hitchhikers. The fines in the schedule are expressed in United States dollars but payable in the equivalent Zimbabwe dollars at the prevailing interbank rate. ^[5]

Then in Harare, March 2023, the City of Harare put out the following:

Devolution

On devolution, Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), Community Water Alliance (CWA) and Member of Parliament Rusty Markham went to court in 2023, and in October, the High Court ordered that:

Any or all of the respondents shall, within a period of six (6) months, that is to say, by 31 March 2021 submit a bill or Bills for gazetting by the Parliament of Zimbabwe which Bill or Bills will give effect to an Act of Parliament governing the devolution of powers as contemplated in Chapter 14 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The Minister of Local Government Rural and Urban Development was the first respondent with the Minister of Justice Legal and Financial Affairs being the second respondent the Minister of Finance and Economic Development was the third respondent. The matter was presided over by Justice Mushore. Residents were represented by Mr Tendai Biti, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. ^[6]

As of March 2023, none of the respondents had complied with the court order, meaning all the government ministers were in contempt of court.

Pomona Dump deal

A CoH Councillors investigation into the Pomona Dump deal, has revealed that it would cost the City of Harare over US$1 billion while the city would derive revenue of US$60.39 million from the sale of electricity. The total cost of the project to City of Harare over the period of 30 years period will be US$1,002,202,001.65.

The report showed that the City of Harare was not allowed full involvement in the deal which was imposed on Harare by the Local Government ministry. The contract was evaluated by the Public Private Partnership (PPP) unit in the Finance ministry. And due diligence was not followed in awarding Geogenix BV, formerly Integrated Energy BV, the contract to operate the Pomona dumpsite. The PPP unit was established in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development by section 34 of the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Act [Chapter 14:37]. ^[7]

References