A GOVERNANCE dispute is intensifying in Crowhill, a fast-growing peri-urban settlement on the outskirts of Harare, as residents push for autonomous administration under a proposed local board while resisting efforts by the Goromonzi Rural District Council (GRDC) to assume control.
Tensions escalated last Sunday after GRDC issued a public notice calling on residents and property owners across the district — including Crowhill — to register and update their details for billing by June 8, 2026.
“Goromonzi Rural District Council wishes to notify all Crowhill residents that the council has commenced the registration of individual property accounts and billing of land rates in the council database,” the notice read.
The move signals council’s intention to extend its administrative and revenue systems to Crowhill, an area that has largely developed outside traditional rural district structures.
However, the directive has reignited a long-standing dispute over governance and control of the area.
Mutuso, Taruvinga & Mhiribidi Attorneys, acting on behalf of Cleverhill Investments, raised concern over council’s capacity in a letter dated April 20, 2026, addressed to the chief executive officer and council chairperson.
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“While we support the formalisation of land tenure, we have significant concerns regarding the council’s current administrative and financial capacity to inherit and maintain high-spec private infrastructure,” the law firm said.
The letter, titled Formal Inquiry Regarding Administrative Capacity and Financial Compliance Pursuant to SI 69 of 2026 and SI 33 of 2026, demands disclosures before integration of Crowhill into the council system.
The lawyers questioned whether GRDC complies with Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026, which requires local authorities to allocate at least 70% of revenue to service delivery.
“We require proof that the council is adhering to the mandated 70:30 ratio, where 70% of revenue is dedicated to essential service delivery and no more than 30% is consumed by salaries and administrative costs,” they said.
They also sought clarification on labour obligations under Statutory Instrument 33 of 2026, including compliance with the 50% USD salary requirement.
“Please confirm the council’s current status regarding USD salary compliance... or proof of a registered exemption certificate,” the letter read.
The legal team warned that without such assurances, revenue collected from Crowhill residents can be diverted towards salaries instead of infrastructure development.
The Area Committee of Estate Residents for Crowhill (ACERCRAC) says the area’s development has, since 2012, followed a framework allowing for parallel growth outside RDC systems.
“This model was designed to allow communities like Crowhill to develop modern infrastructure without being constrained by the limitations of rural district councils,” the committee said.
ACERCRAC is now pushing for local board status, which grants the area control over governance, service delivery and revenue collection.
“We are not just a residents’ association; we are building a governance model that ensures accountability, efficiency and protection of community assets,” it said.
Residents say they have invested in key infrastructure, including roads, water systems and energy solutions, and want the investment protected.
“We want a system where our contributions directly benefit the area,” one resident said.
ACERCRAC has set a June 2026 deadline for residents to register under its framework, as the standoff with the RDC continues over who should ultimately govern Crowhill.
No comment could be obtained from the Goromonzi RDC despite repeated efforts on Wednesday and yesterday.