Ruwa Eyes Town Status by 2026

Ruwa Local Board has been urged to accelerate projects to attain town status by 2026 (image source)

Ruwa Local Board has been urged to fast-track its infrastructure and community projects to achieve municipal status by the end of next year. Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Charles Tawengwa toured key developments in Ruwa yesterday, commending progress and setting a clear deadline for town status.

“Compared to other areas that already have town status, you are doing quite well. Let this be your challenge: by the end of next year, you will have attained town status. I am confident you can achieve this,” Minister Tawengwa said during the site inspections.

Tawengwa, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Cosmas Chiringa and senior government officials, reviewed the Better Days Market in Runyararo, the newly built Ruwa Town House, Runyararo Primary School, and the Damofalls Poly Clinic. He praised the innovative use of community-raised funds—such as pig-rearing projects at local schools—and urged the board to maintain momentum.

These projects reflect Ruwa’s alignment with the “Call to Action” urban renewal blueprint spearheaded by President Mnangagwa, which mandates comprehensive master plans for local authorities. Last May, Ruwa joined Chitungwiza and Epworth in finalising its master plan under the initiative, positioning the board to meet service-delivery benchmarks required for town status.

Attaining town status requires meeting criteria set by the Ministry of Local Government, including a validated master plan, approved valuation rolls, demonstrated revenue-collection capacity and sustainable service-delivery systems. Ruwa Local Board chair Michael Mataruka affirmed that “all paperwork is complete and pending confirmation,” but acknowledged that acceleration of construction and technical inspections will be crucial to secure designation by early 2026.

In Zimbabwe, local boards operate under district councils, while towns enjoy greater autonomy, larger budgets, and direct parliamentary representation. Recent upgrades in Ruwa mirror trends in urban expansion around Harare, driven by population growth and investment in peri-urban infrastructure.

Experts warn that sluggish execution can delay municipal status indefinitely. Urban planner Dr. Farai Ncube noted, “Infrastructure alone isn’t enough—governance, financial management, and community engagement must all advance in lockstep.”

The Ministry will conduct a follow-up assessment in December 2025 to verify compliance with town-status requirements. Ruwa Local Board has been tasked with submitting progress reports quarterly. If benchmarks are met, the government should grant town status by mid-2026, unlocking more funding and administrative powers.