HARARE, March 12 (NewsDay Live) – Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe has commended land developers who have honoured their contractual obligations by supporting national development initiatives.
Garwe also urged developers not to hold onto land without making tangible progress on development projects.
He made the remarks while addressing land developers during the handover of a multi-million-dollar construction fleet in Harare on Wednesday.
The minister received a formidable fleet comprising front-end loaders, graders, tippers and pickup vehicles, as well as specialised technical equipment.
The machinery, provided by developers including Highrange, Romapix and Junior Construction as part of their contractual obligations to government, will be deployed immediately to the Public Works Department to accelerate development projects across the country.
Garwe expressed gratitude to the developers for meeting their commitments and supporting national development.
Keep Reading
“I wish to express my profound gratitude to the developers who have adhered to their contractual obligations. By providing this top-of-the-range equipment, you are proving that you are not just developers but true partners in national development,” he said.
While praising partners such as Highrange, Romapix and Junior Construction for meeting their obligations, Garwe urged those lagging behind to fulfil theirs.
“To those who are still ‘limbering up’ in the locker room, the clock is ticking. In the next donation and deployment cycle, I expect 100% compliance,” he said.
The equipment will support the government’s shift toward urban densification and the redevelopment of derelict structures into high-rise apartments under the newly gazetted Statutory Instrument 170 of 2025.
Garwe emphasised that no Certificate of Occupancy will be issued unless developments meet strict Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), including:
- Standardised tarred roads and functional storm-water drainage
- Direct water reticulation within a 100-metre walking distance
- Integrated sewer systems and mandatory waste management plans
- Public safety features, including street lighting and recreational spaces
The minister also announced that future development blueprints must include modern stadia and drug rehabilitation centres to address substance abuse among the youth.
Garwe said the newly acquired machinery should be deployed immediately to designated construction sites under the Public Works Department to ensure the Vision 2030 upper-middle-income society target remains on track.
Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera said the donated equipment would significantly boost the ministry’s operational capacity and its ability to implement development programmes efficiently.
“The machinery symbolises strengthened institutional capacity. The equipment will be managed under the Local Authorities Technical Support Unit (LATSU),” Basera said.
The donation is expected to enhance the ministry’s capacity to implement infrastructure projects while strengthening collaboration between government and private land developers in driving urban transformation and housing delivery.