Zimbabwe urban transport system ‘dysfunctional’ in 92 councils – Minister Garwe

Traffic congestion in Harare

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s urban transport system has become “largely dysfunctional” across all 92 local authorities due to poor spatial planning and weak urban management, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a planners’ interface meeting held this week, Garwe said the government is now moving to address long-standing failures in urban planning that have crippled service delivery in towns and cities.

“The urban transport system across our 92 local authorities is no longer functioning as it should,” Garwe said. “This is largely due to poor town planning and weaknesses within spatial planning departments.”

The high-level engagement, described as a Spatial Planners’ Interface, brought together government officials and planning experts to confront what the minister called “systemic rot” in local authorities.

Zimbabwe has 92 local authorities, including urban councils, municipalities, and rural district councils, all of which fall under the oversight of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. Garwe said the intervention follows growing concern within government over declining service delivery standards, particularly in urban transport systems characterised by congestion, unregulated commuter operations, and deteriorating infrastructure.

Urban planning experts say poor land use management and rapid, unplanned urbanisation have contributed significantly to transport inefficiencies.

“Most of our cities have outgrown their original designs,” said urban development analyst Engineer Tinashe Zhou. “Transport routes, residential areas and commercial zones are no longer aligned, leading to congestion and longer commuting times.”

In major cities such as Harare and Bulawayo, informal transport operators have increasingly filled the gap left by struggling public transport systems, often operating outside formal regulatory frameworks.

Garwe said the planners’ interface is part of a broader government push to reform local authorities and restore functionality in key service delivery sectors.

“This platform allows us to engage directly with planners and identify practical solutions to improve spatial planning and urban mobility,” he said.

He added that strengthening planning departments and enforcing development regulations will be critical to reversing the current situation.

Policy analysts note that effective urban transport systems are closely linked to economic productivity, as inefficiencies increase costs for businesses and workers alike.

“Transport is the backbone of any functioning city,” said economist Patricia Dube. “If it breaks down, it affects everything from labour mobility to investment flows.”

The government is expected to roll out further measures targeting local authorities in the coming months as part of efforts to improve urban infrastructure and service delivery nationwide.

Zimbabwe urban transport system