Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has unveiled two major local development plans aimed at transforming the city’s landscape, boosting investment, and promoting sustainable urban growth.
The initiatives, Local Plan 12 and Local Plan 18, were presented during a city meeting at the Small City Hall on Wednesday, where Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu said the plans mark a turning point in Bulawayo’s efforts to create a modern, inclusive and business-friendly city.
“These plans are crucial as they are now a key tool for attracting investment,” said Ndlovu. “Investors seek certainty, vision and clear regulation from government. A well-considered development plan sends a powerful message that our city is open for business and ready for investment.”
He said the local plans reflect a long-term vision that will shape Bulawayo’s future growth.
“By designating land for modern industry and commercial hubs, we are effectively rolling out the red carpet for the private sector,” he said. “The private sector is the engine for local economic development. Local Plan 12, for the southern areas, will help unlock the immense potential of that part of the city. We can plan for new economic facilities, green spaces, and transport links that connect residents to opportunities in our Central Business District.”
Under Local Plan 18, Ndlovu said the city aims to reimagine a vibrant, modern urban core with a strong nightlife economy and mixed-use spaces.
“These plans are not only about buildings, but about creating new jobs, supporting entrepreneurs and fostering innovation,” he said. “A thriving city needs a thriving business community. These plans address infrastructure, traffic management and commercial space needs, from large corporate offices in the CBD to affordable starter units for small businesses in the south.”
Town Planning Assistant Director Sehlile Ndlovu said the council’s goal is for every part of Bulawayo to have a development framework guiding orderly growth.
“As a city, our aim is to have every square metre covered by a local plan,” she said. “Local Plan 18 covers the northern part of the CBD, from 3rd Avenue up to Beit Avenue and from Lobengula to Parirenyatwa, while Local Plan 12 focuses on the southern areas, including Newton West, Bellevue, Four Wings, and the newly developed Emganwini.”
According to the Local Plan 12 Written Statement, the goal is to create a spatial framework responsive to community needs while aligning with government policy. The plan promotes mixed-use and densified urban development to contain urban sprawl and improve economic vibrancy.
“We want to create a vibrant commercial transit corridor along major transportation routes to boost the city’s image and promote compact, modern development,” said Sibongile Ndlovu, a town planner who presented the Local Plan 12 draft. “The goal is to promote order, convenience, economic growth and the preservation of heritage.”
Key proposals under Local Plan 12 include developing a Truck Inn site along the Plumtree Highway to serve long-haul drivers, constructing a new hospital for southern Bulawayo, and establishing a polytechnic and skills hub to address youth employment and industrial growth. The plan also proposes densified housing, a multi-purpose stadium, and office parks to enhance service-sector expansion.
In the northern CBD, Local Plan 18 seeks to revitalise dilapidated areas and attract new investment by reconfiguring business zones.
“The main objective is to enliven land-use zones within the planning area to meet the current demand and expectations of residents,” said Veronica Ndlovu, another town planner.
“We want to encourage investment by allowing a wider range of uses, promote high-rise buildings, and create higher-value properties in a part of the city that currently appears rundown.”
The plan also aims to upgrade essential infrastructure, including water, sewerage, electricity, internet and telecommunication services, and improve the road network for efficient transport flow
“Protecting the environment as a life-support system from unsustainable modification is one of our priorities,” said Veronica Ndlovu. “We want to ensure that development balances progress with conservation.”
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just personally feel the city needs a solar power farm to light up the entire city
This meeting should have appeared on Cite ‘s page the last council meeting was not fully recorded and there should have been an apology from Cite?
Cite needs to improve its recording on its facebook page possibly get updated modern equipment