MARTIN MAWAYA
SHURUGWI-Ambitious housing development projects meant to transform Shurugwi into a modern town are being severely hampered by illegal settlers and unregulated mining activities, the local authority has revealed to The Midweek Watch.
Town Secretary Archibald Ncube said the council’s urban growth plan anchored on partnerships with reputable developers such as the Mining Industry Pension Fund (MIPF), Unki Mines Pvt Ltd, Masimba Holdings, Sheasham Investments, and CGM Construction was facing serious disruption from people invading land earmarked for housing and engaging in illegal gold mining.
“The invasion of land earmarked for housing development and environmental degradation caused by illegal mining has slowed down our progress. Some areas have become undevelopable and costly to rehabilitate,” said Ncube.
He added that council had been forced to engage the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) to map and assess the affected areas, a process that has increased project costs and delayed timelines.
Despite these setbacks, Shurugwi Town Council has recorded notable progress in housing delivery.
The MIPF Impali Housing Scheme, started in 2022, has seen the servicing of 310 residential stands ranging from 400 to 2,000 square metres at a cost of US$2.8 million.
The project includes surfaced roads, water and sewer reticulation systems, and stormwater drainage, all now at 100 percent completion.
Beneficiaries have begun constructing houses on the serviced land.
Ncube said the project was transforming the local housing landscape and improving the living standards of residents.
“These developments are key to improving the quality of life for our residents and expanding council’s revenue base through rates and service charges,” he noted.
The Unki Mines Housing Project, one of the town’s flagship developments, has also witnessed substantial progress.
The scheme, which includes 1,000 residential stands, has full water, sewer, and road infrastructure in place.
To date, 365 duplex flats and nearly 100 detached houses have been built as tied accommodation for Unki employees.
However, Ncube lamented that project targets were “negatively affected by illegal settlers who resisted eviction,” leading to delays and costly legal interventions.
“We had to engage the Ministries of Lands and Mines to regularize land tenure and enforce development control. Illegal mining activities had degraded parts of the project area,” he said.
Similar challenges were encountered in the Sheasham Investments and CGM Construction housing projects, which jointly target over 1,000 stands for low-cost housing.
Despite investing a combined US$2.8 million into servicing land, progress has been slowed by land disputes and environmental damage from unauthorized activities.
In the Masimba Holdings Impali Low-Density Scheme, where 500 stands are being developed, most of the water and sewer systems have been completed, although the surfacing of access roads covering a 10-kilometre network remains outstanding.
Ncube emphasized that the housing projects spanning from low to high-density developments were vital to decongesting the old town and aligning with national housing goals under NDS1 and Vision 2030.
To counter the recurring disruptions, he said council was working closely with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the District Lands Committee to enforce relocations and clear illegal occupations in affected areas.
“We are taking a firm stance. Where necessary, we resort to litigation and coordinated evictions to safeguard planned development,” he said.
He added that continued collaboration with developers and government institutions would be key to restoring the town’s developmental trajectory.
“Our goal is to create a modern, well-serviced urban environment that supports industrial growth and decent housing for all. But this can only be achieved if we curb illegal settlements and unregulated mining, which continue to undermine the town’s vision,” Ncube said.
Council housing director Fortune Marevesa said the mining town has five housing schemes, adding that they believe in public-private partnerships.
The Town Council is intensifying engagement with the Ministry of Mines, Lands, and law enforcement agencies to restore order, rehabilitate degraded land, and relocate illegal settlers through development-induced displacement.
The local authority also plans to tighten land monitoring systems and fast-track layout approvals, ensuring housing projects proceed without obstruction while promoting responsible mining practices that coexist with urban development.
Local government expert Charles Mazorodze said local authorities should be granted full autonomy to govern their jurisdictions without interference.
“There is a need for councils, as lower tiers of government, to have the authority to address illegal activities in their areas without reprisals from the central government. They must also strengthen their by-laws and push for the realization of devolution at the local level. People should experience the true essence of devolution and it must be felt at the grassroots level,” he said.
Mazorodze added that the Government should expedite the process of repealing the archaic Mining Act, as mining has taken precedence over human settlements.
He further emphasized the need to realign land governance systems to empower local authorities to scale up housing development and related services without hindrance.
One of the artisanal miners, identified only as Lucky, confirmed that the roads are collapsing due to underground mining activities taking place in the area.
