Antony Chawagarira
MWENEZI – Mwenezi Rural District Council (RDC) has issued a blanket enforcement order directing operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at several business centres across the district to demolish illegally constructed permanent structures and restore the land to its original condition after they allegedly defied council directives.
The enforcement order, issued under Section 32 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12], targets occupiers of SME workspaces at Rutenga Growth Point, Lundi Rural Service Centre, Maranda Rural Service Centre, Murawi Business Centre, Maranda Turn-off Business Centre, Muzhandjibe Business Centre, Neshuro Growth Point, Matibi Rural Service Centre and Pambe Business Centre.
According to the order dated June 25, 2026, the council says developments in the affected areas were undertaken in contravention of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act through the erection and operation of structures without development permits.
The order requires affected occupiers to discontinue the use of the land, demolish the illegal structures and restore the land to its original condition before development. It will come into operation on July 29, 2026, unless an appeal is lodged within one month in terms of Section 38 of the Act.
Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer Albert Chivanga Ndhlovu said the enforcement order was issued after some SME operators refused to comply with council directives prohibiting the construction of permanent structures.
“The circular comes into effect after some small and medium enterprise operators refused to comply with a council directive not to build permanent structures. Their operations were supposed to be temporary while awaiting relocation to properly planned permanent SME workspaces,” said Ndhlovu.
He said the council had exhausted dialogue before resorting to enforcement and had engaged all relevant stakeholders before issuing the order.
“We held meetings with the Zimbabwe Chamber of SMEs, led by its Secretary General Venancio Kurauone, and officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs and SMEs Development. They all supported the council’s position because they were fully aware of the original arrangement and earlier agreement that the structures would only be temporary while traders awaited relocation to properly planned permanent SME workspaces,” he said.
Ndhlovu said some operators later claimed they had been allocated the sites by an unnamed office bearer after paying undisclosed amounts of money and receiving assurances that they would not be affected by future council action.
“Some traders are alleging they paid money to an anonymous office holder who allocated them the spaces and assured them that council would not disturb them. Council does not recognise such arrangements, and all developments must comply with approved planning procedures and development control regulations,” he said.
He said the local authority remained committed to creating orderly and properly planned trading spaces while ensuring the development of modern SME infrastructure across the district. He urged affected operators to comply with the enforcement order or exercise their right to appeal within the period provided under the Act.
The notice further warns that failure to comply could result in penalties, including the demolition of illegal structures and restoration of the land at the owner’s expense, as provided for under the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act.
