Zimbabwe’s urban landscape is often defined by the presence of “durawalls,” the ubiquitous precast cement panel walls that surround many homes and properties. These structures, meant to provide security, have become a defining feature of suburban life. However, many residents have installed these walls without seeking prior council approval, a fact that has now led to a controversial directive from Chitungwiza Municipality. The council is demanding that homeowners regularise their durawalls by February 28th or face demolition, an announcement that has ignited considerable anger and frustration among residents.

The Council’s Directive: Regularisation or Demolition

Chitungwiza Municipality recently issued a notice instructing property owners with unapproved durawalls to visit their offices to begin the regularisation process. They have also declared that any walls encroaching on neighbouring boundaries must be adjusted to their original pegs. The council is offering a waiver of what they have termed “penalties” and is instead charging a US$150 approval fee for each durawall that is regularised, if owners comply by the set deadline. However, failure to comply, the municipality has stated, will result in the demolition of the unapproved walls. This has been viewed by many as extortion, a way for the cash strapped council to generate revenue.

The council notice cites the Regional, Town and Country Planning and the Roads Act (Chapter 13:18) as the legal basis for its actions. This might sound very logical, on paper. In reality many residents believe that this is a money-making scheme by a council that has been failing to provide even the most basic of services.

Resident’s Outrage: A Council Out of Touch

The move by Chitungwiza Municipality has been met with widespread anger and disappointment on social media. Many residents view the demand for regularisation fees as a blatant money-grabbing exercise. They point out that the council’s claim that they are doing this for resident safety is insincere given the council’s own failures. Residents are quick to highlight the lack of essential services, such as reliable refuse collection and the council’s apparent inability to curtail the activities of land barons who continue to cheat people and operate with impunity.

The frustration is compounded by the fact that most residents were simply unaware that building a durawall required council approval in the first place. For years, these walls have been built without issue and have become an accepted part of the urban environment. The council, residents argue, has been quiet all this time, only to suddenly change course and start demanding money for something that has long been in existence. Many feel this is a cynical move to exploit residents rather than a genuine attempt to improve urban planning. This is a very sad state of affairs indeed.

A Familiar Pattern: Other Councils Follow Suit

Chitungwiza is not the only council engaging in such controversial measures. Rusape Town Council recently announced that residents must pay a US$20 certification fee for the installation of 5,000-litre water tanks or larger. The council claims this is to ensure safety, citing cases where tanks have collapsed. However, residents see this as another instance of a council attempting to profit from its own failures. As we previously covered, see our article on Rusape Town Council’s tank certification fees, the council is demanding payment from anyone who wants to install a 5000 litre tank or bigger in order for a town engineer to certify the installation meets safety standards.

The reason why people have resorted to installing tanks is that the Rusape Town Council has failed to provide an adequate and safe water supply to its residents. Consequently, citizens have to drill boreholes and install water storage tanks to ensure they have clean water. Charging a fee to approve these structures seems to be adding insult to injury and is viewed as opportunistic by residents who are already burdened by the failings of their local authority. The issue is no longer whether the tank is safe but instead it is whether residents can afford to get the tank certified.

A Look at The Bigger Picture: The State of Local Governance

The actions of Chitungwiza and Rusape councils underscore a wider issue: the state of local governance in Zimbabwe. Many councils are struggling with funding, service delivery, and accountability. Instead of focusing on improving services and addressing the genuine needs of residents, some councils appear to be resorting to revenue-generating schemes that place a further burden on already struggling communities.

These new regulatory fees might seem insignificant for some, but for many ordinary Zimbabweans, each dollar counts, especially given the current harsh economic climate. Residents feel that, instead of enforcing regulations that should have been made clear from the start, councils should first work to earn back the public’s trust by doing what they are supposed to do in the first place. Provide services that they are legally mandated to provide.

Conclusion: Residents Demand Better

The situation with durawalls and water tanks is more than just a dispute over fees; it is a reflection of the growing mistrust and dissatisfaction with local governance. Residents are demanding that councils prioritise service delivery and community development instead of focusing solely on revenue collection. They want councils to show that their main concern is to look after the wellbeing of the people they serve. Until councils show a real committment to serving the public their policies will be viewed with suspicion. The current stance being taken by councils like Chitungwiza and Rusape risks further eroding any semblance of faith the public has in local governance.