Parliament has rejected a petition from residents of Magwegwe West in Bulawayo who are seeking intervention in a long-running land dispute with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), ruling that the matter falls outside the legislature’s constitutional mandate.
The stand beneficiaries, who purchased residential stands from BCC in 2016, have been unable to resume construction for years due to unresolved legal battles involving the city and a contracted developer.
In frustration, the residents began erecting makeshift shelters on the unserviced land in November, declaring they would occupy the area until the council completed its obligations.
Hoping to break the deadlock, the group submitted a petition to Parliament requesting assistance in resolving the contractual dispute. But Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda said the petition could not be entertained.
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“On the 4th of December 2025, Parliament received a petition from the Magwegwe West home seekers beseeching Parliament to solve the contractual land dispute,” Mudenda said.
“The petition was deemed inadmissible because it requested Parliament to perform a duty that is beyond its constitutional mandate. The petitioners were also advised accordingly.”
The decision leaves the residents without a clear path forward as the legal dispute between BCC and the contractor continues.
BCC recently confirmed that it cannot halt the construction of temporary shelters on the land because the site is still under the control of the contractor involved in the court case, leaving the beneficiaries stuck in limbo as they await a resolution.
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