Chitown plans 529 stands as MPs fight to save land for university

By Albert Masaka | CHITUNGWIZA | 10 November 2026  — A battle over the future of Chitungwiza is now playing out over 84 hectares of land in St Mary’s, after Council placed a plan to build 529 residential stands on its agenda — just days before all five of the town’s MPs filed a joint objection demanding the land be preserved for a university.

The plan is Application SC/01/26, contained in Chitungwiza Municipality’s September 2026 monthly report from the Department of Urban Planning Services.

It seeks subdivision of the Remainder of St Mary’s — 84.4367 hectares — in terms of Section 40 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12] — into a residential suburb of 529 stands.

The applicant is listed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Mashonaland and Matabeleland in Trust for the Church of the Province of South Africa — Anglican Church, who is also listed as the owner.

The Acting Director of Urban Planning Services recommended that Council grant a permit authorising the establishment of the 529-stand suburb.

The agenda for the 512th Ordinary Council Meeting, held on Friday 6 November 2026 at 4:00pm in Council Chamber, Zengeza, and issued on 4 November 2026, lists the matter as Item 14.9:”That, the application by the Anglican Church for the subdivision of the remainder of St Mary’s be granted, following due processes.

“The item came from the Public Works, Town Lands and Environmental Management Committee meeting held on 21 October 2026, Item 11.7.Item 14.3 on the same agenda also asked Council to adopt the September 2026 Urban Planning report that contains the 529-stand recommendation.

Dungwiza News has not seen the minutes of the 6 November meeting, but a source from council said that Item 14.9 was approved.

Three days after the meeting, on 9 November 2026, all five Chitungwiza MPs filed a joint formal objection.

It was addressed to the Town Clerk Japson Nemuseso, stamped as received by the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Harare Metropolitan Province, on 9 November, and by the Chitungwiza Municipality Town Clerk’s Office Registry on 10 November.

It is signed by Brighton Mazhindu (St Mary’s), Innocent Zvaipa (Zengeza West), Goodrich Chimbaira (Zengeza East), Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North) and Maxwell Mavhunga (Chitungwiza South).

They object to “the proposed change of land use and subdivision of land previously earmarked for the establishment of a university in Chitungwiza.”

They said a university would improve access to higher education, create employment, stimulate local businesses, promote research and innovation, and contribute to the economic transformation of the town.

“Chitungwiza is one of Zimbabwe’s largest urban settlements, yet it remains without a major public university of its own,” they wrote. “Thousands of young people from our constituencies must seek university education outside Chitungwiza, often facing substantial transport, accommodation and other associated costs.”

“Land is a finite resource. Once land intended for a university is subdivided into residential or commercial stands, recovering it for educational purposes becomes extremely difficult,” they warned.

“We must not trade away the educational future of generations to come for short-term development gains. Our position is clear: Chitungwiza needs a university, and land intended for that purpose must be protected.”

They demanded that authorities “provide a written response to this joint objection before any final decision is taken.”Infrastructure and consultation questions remainCouncil’s own September report highlights unresolved questions.

The Department of Spatial Planning and Development required a full infrastructure plan showing connections to existing water and sewer, a development programme including trunk sewer infrastructure and an Environmental Impact Assessment, consultation with the Environmental Management Agency, and reservation of 40% of the area for flats.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure required a 140-metre road reserve — 70 metres from the centre of the dual carriageway on either side — a service lane to reduce multiple entry and exit points, and relocation of the access road connecting to Seke Road away from a curve.

The report also noted Council had to consider whether Chitungwiza had capacity to supply potable water, saying the town is pursuing three water augmentation strategies in a drive to assume full Water Authority status.

Residents of St Mary’s say the area already suffers chronic water shortages and want to know how 529 additional stands can be serviced.

The report also refers to a previous permit, SD/01/2012, which should be cancelled, and to a Court Order rendering previous processes null and void, without attaching the order.

 It also notes comments that were cross-cutting to another applicant, Tensor Systems.On consultation, the September report lists 13 February 2026 as the consultation date.

But minutes of the 510th Ordinary Council Meeting held on 25 August 2026, chaired by Mayor Cllr Rosaria. Mangoma, record: “PUBLIC OR PRESS MEMBERS: Nil”, “PETITIONS AND APPLICATIONS: There were no petitions”, and “QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC: There were no questions.

“In the same meeting, councillors complained that consultative meetings had suffered poor attendance because there was no hailing, notices were circulated in WhatsApp groups only on the morning of meetings, venues were too far for the elderly, and messages were not communicated in vernacular.