Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s economic development department has held a consultative meeting to review its ongoing development initiatives and outline future strategy which targets investment and smart growth.
The city’s economic development manager, Kholisani Moyo, said the local authority was committed to creating a smart, affordable and inclusive city guided by transparency and accountability.
He said the city’s planning and development efforts were anchored on the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, introduced around 2018, and the National Development Strategies One and Two, which align local priorities with national and continental goals such as Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are not working in isolation; our programmes are guided by national and global development frameworks to ensure Bulawayo remains competitive and sustainable,” he said.
Moyo said the city’s corporate strategy ran until 2025, after which a new plan for 2026-30 will take effect.
“The city has already begun consultations to shape this new strategic document, which will focus on improved governance, service delivery, and economic growth,” he said.
He said Bulawayo made significant progress in several areas, including water and sanitation, road maintenance, waste management and housing development.
“Our water coverage has improved to 99% though we acknowledge challenges in consistent supply hours,” he said.
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Moyo added that the city’s refuse collection coverage stood at more than 92% while wastewater collection had reached 95%.
“The housing sector also recorded progress, with the city delivering 9 200 residential stands out of a target of 15 000,” he said.
He said major milestones were achieved during the last strategic period, including the approval of the master plan, which he described as a key document that gave direction to the development of the city.
“Other notable achievements include rehabilitation of pump stations, installation of solar infrastructure, construction of schools and clinics, and commissioning of fire tenders to improve public safety. The city also introduced solar street lighting and expanded CCTV coverage to enhance security,” he said.
Moyo said Bulawayo continued to promote environmental conservation programmes such as the pocket forest initiative, which focused on planting indigenous trees across the city.
“We are working towards a greener, smarter Bulawayo that offers opportunities for all. The city is also introducing a new framework known as the Minimum Service Delivery Standard, which sets benchmarks for service provision in key areas such as water, infrastructure, education and health,” he said.
Moyo said the local authority would hold a strategic workshop in December to enlighten stakeholders on the city’s new vision and roadmap beyond 2025.
“Our goal is to maintain Bulawayo’s legacy as the City of Kings and Queens while embracing innovation, sustainability and inclusive development,” he said.
