The High Court sitting in Bulawayo has ordered Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe to publish a Government Gazette notice establishing the Maqhoba Chef De Grand Smart City Local Board, which will oversee development in Cowdray Park and surrounding areas.
Justice Mphokiseng Dube issued the order following an application by Philani Sibanda, director of Siphathamandla Maqhoba Investments and chairman of the Notified Area Committee for the proposed smart city.
The court also directed the minister to instruct the City of Bulawayo to connect water and install a bulk water meter at the smart city pending completion of the Zambezi Water Project.
It ordered that the Notified Area Committee/Interim Development Committee continue administering and providing services to the area after publication of the Gazette notice.
The proposed local board will comprise Cowdray Park, Norwood and other parts of Umguza Rural District Council land within a 20-kilometre radius.
In his founding affidavit, Sibanda said Siphathamandla Maqhoba Investments owned Lot 32 of Subdivision R of the Helenvale Block by virtue of an earlier High Court order, HC2168/22.
He argued the local board was necessary to address service delivery and development challenges in the rapidly growing area.
Sibanda said numerous representations had been made to the minister, including letters from the Cowdray Park legislator, the senator for Bulawayo Province, residents’ leaders and civic society organisations, requesting the Gazette notice.
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He accused the ministry of failing to publish the notice despite having the statutory mandate to establish local authorities, arguing the matter was not a disputed legal or factual issue but one of implementing government policy.
Sibanda said government had established similar local boards in Ruwa, Norton, Chitungwiza and Epworth, as well as areas under Gweru and Kwekwe.
“The respondent’s failure to apply the same approach to Bulawayo Province amounts to an unjustifiable differentiation, perpetuating an imbalance in development and service delivery, and contravening the principles of equality and fairness enshrined in the constitution,” he said.
He also challenged the City of Bulawayo’s role, arguing the town clerk had no authority to override the ministry’s decision on establishing the local board.
Sibanda said the proposed authority would help decongest Bulawayo and bring services closer to residents.
Cowdray Park alone has a population of more than 78 000, which he said was larger than Gwanda Town.
He criticised the city’s service delivery, citing the state of the central business district, potholes, dilapidated buildings and the failed Egodini project.
Sibanda said the smart city would incorporate technology and innovation, developing into an industrial, commercial, financial, residential and investment hub, including a modern park station, hotels, research facilities, a university and industries.
The board would initially be administered by a Notified Area Committee until elections are held and a full council established.
Court papers state the committee was formed during a joint stakeholders meeting at the Mhlahlandlela Government Complex Conference Centre on June 6, 2025.
Cowdray Park MP and Bulawayo Metropolitan senator Collet Ndlovu endorsed the proposal in a separate letter to Garwe, saying it would foster economic growth, improve infrastructure and enhance service delivery.
The High Court order did not make any order as to costs.
