BULAWAYO – Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe has challenged urban planners to uphold professional integrity and reject the influence of land barons, warning that compromised planning practices are fuelling disorderly settlements and undermining sustainable urban development.
Addressing delegates at the Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planners (ZIRUP) Annual School Conference 2026 at Mavuna Lodge in Bulawayo, Minister Garwe said planners had a professional responsibility to ensure that settlements were properly designed and developed in line with sound planning principles.
He cautioned professionals against being used by individuals behind illegal land developments to legitimise irregular settlements.
“Please don’t be commissioned by land barons to be their consultants,” he said, warning that Zimbabwe had no room for planning barons, architectural barons or other actors who undermine orderly development.
Minister Garwe urged planners to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their professional training to promote well-governed settlements, protect the public interest and strengthen accountability in the built environment.
He said the quality of development should be measured by its impact on people’s lives, including access to decent housing, reliable infrastructure, modern facilities, efficient local authority services and a clean, protected environment.
The Minister also called on planners, contractors and developers to prioritise sound designs and strong foundations to ensure that buildings and infrastructure can withstand increasingly severe weather conditions.
Citing recent storms in Masvingo and Mashonaland East, he said extreme weather events were already taking a toll on infrastructure and agricultural production, underscoring the need to integrate climate risks into spatial planning and construction.
He revealed that a storm in Masvingo about three weeks ago destroyed significant infrastructure, particularly educational facilities, while a hailstorm in Mashonaland East last week damaged extensive tobacco fields during a critical stage of the agricultural season.
The incidents, he said, demonstrated the importance of forward-looking planning and resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental pressures.
Minister Garwe also commended Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart and his team for their efforts to advance the city’s development.
The conference provided a platform for urban and regional planning professionals to reflect on the role of effective spatial planning, professional ethics and climate-resilient infrastructure in shaping sustainable settlements across Zimbabwe.
