Zimbabwe Updates

Tag: Daniel Garwe

Minister Garwe Deploys New Fleet to Strengthen Project Monitoring and Service Delivery Nationwide

Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, has directed that newly acquired government vehicles be deployed first to district offices, saying the move is aimed at strengthening frontline service delivery and enhancing supervision of development projects across Zimbabwe.

Speaking during the handover of the vehicle fleet and technical equipment, Minister Garwe said the ministry had for years faced mobility challenges that limited its ability to effectively supervise, coordinate, monitor and evaluate projects and policy implementation across its devolved structures.

“The ministry has for some time faced significant mobility challenges arising from an inadequate vehicle fleet. These concerns have affected our capacity to supervise, coordinate, monitor and evaluate projects and policy implementation across our devolved structures,” Garwe said.

He said the investment demonstrates Government’s commitment to building a capable, responsive and efficient public service, while expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion for funding the acquisition.

The minister also acknowledged the contribution of development partners and private sector stakeholders, whose support under the Local Authorities Technical Support Unit initiative saw the ministry receive computers, printers, plotters and other specialised equipment to improve the work of planners, engineers, architects and technical personnel.

Garwe said the new assets would strengthen planning, monitoring and evaluation while promoting evidence-based decision-making in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.

He instructed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. John Basera, to oversee the distribution of the vehicles, with priority being given to district offices, followed by provincial offices before allocations are made to head office.

“We are starting from district, we move up to provincial, then we end with head office. Every province and every district must benefit from this programme to ensure that no part of the country is left behind,” Garwe said.

Garwe said deploying the vehicles closer to communities would improve project implementation, strengthen oversight of infrastructure development and ensure government programmes are delivered efficiently throughout the country.

Permanent Secretary Dr. John Basera said the deployment of the vehicles marks a significant milestone in improving operational efficiency across the ministry.

“The availability of these vehicles will greatly enhance our ability to supervise projects on the ground and ensure that government programmes are implemented according to plan and within set timelines,” Dr. Basera said.

He added that improved mobility would enable technical teams to conduct regular inspections and provide timely support to local authorities, thereby improving accountability and service delivery.

“This investment empowers our teams to remain present where development is taking place. Regular monitoring will ensure that public resources are utilised efficiently and that projects deliver tangible benefits to our communities,” he said.

Dr. Basera also commended Government for prioritising the ministry’s operational needs.

“We are grateful for this support. It reflects Government’s confidence in the ministry and reinforces our commitment to delivering quality services, strengthening local governance and accelerating infrastructure development across Zimbabwe,” he said.

Minister Garwe urged officers entrusted with the vehicles to safeguard them as public assets, emphasising that they must be used responsibly, maintained diligently and deployed strictly for official government business to ensure value for money.

July 13, 2026
Chiefs Key to Development: Minister Garwe

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has commended traditional leaders for supporting government programmes aimed at tackling child marriages, teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence and drug abuse in communities.

Speaking through Deputy Minister Albert Mavunga at the Mashonaland Central Provincial Chiefs Council Assembly meeting in Mazowe on Thursday, Garwe said chiefs remained critical partners in promoting social development and protecting vulnerable groups.

Traditional leaders attend the Mashonaland Central Provincial Chiefs Council Assembly meeting in Mazowe, where they were commended for their role in promoting social cohesion, protecting children and supporting community development programmes.

“Chiefs occupy a unique constitutional position as custodians of our culture, traditions, customs and heritage. The Constitution entrusts you with the responsibility of preserving our values, promoting social cohesion, resolving community disputes, protecting communal resources and supporting Government programmes at the grassroots level,” Garwe said.

The minister urged traditional leaders to ensure villages become safe environments for children and young people.

“These are not merely Government programmes, but national responsibilities that require the continued leadership and influence of traditional leaders,” he said.

Garwe also applauded chiefs in Mashonaland Central for their role in facilitating the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 public outreach meetings.

“The peaceful, orderly and inclusive manner in which the outreach meetings were conducted is testimony to your leadership, wisdom and commitment to democratic governance,” he said.

He urged chiefs to strengthen the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Not in My Village campaign by intensifying efforts to eliminate harmful social practices and promote girls’ education.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Chiefs Council chairperson Chief Matsiwo encouraged chiefs to raise development concerns affecting their communities and propose solutions aimed at improving service delivery.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution Christopher Magomo, Deputy President of the National Council of Chiefs Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, senior government officials and traditional leaders from across the province.

July 2, 2026
Minister Garwe Cracks Down on Land Barons, Illegal “Sabhuku Deals”

Honourable Daniel Garwe, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, has issued a stern warning against land barons and individuals involved in illegal land allocations, commonly known as “sabhuku deals,” saying government will not tolerate practices that undermine orderly urban development and service delivery.

Addressing local authority officials during the Local Authorities Performance Evaluation Feedback Session in Harare, Garwe said illegal land sales have become a major obstacle to sustainable development, resulting in the proliferation of unplanned settlements that lack basic infrastructure and essential services.

The Minister said government is determined to restore order in land administration and ensure that all land allocations are conducted in accordance with approved spatial plans, local development plans and existing laws.

“We cannot achieve Vision 2030 through disorderly settlements created by land barons and illegal land allocations. Every development must be guided by approved plans and legal processes,” said Garwe.

He warned that traditional leaders, local authority officials and private individuals found facilitating illegal land transactions would face disciplinary and legal action.

Garwe noted that many home seekers continue to fall victim to fraudulent land schemes, often purchasing stands on land that has not been properly planned or serviced.

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The result, he said, has been the emergence of communities without roads, water reticulation systems, sewer infrastructure, schools, health facilities and other basic amenities.

The Minister said local authorities must strengthen development control mechanisms and municipal policing to curb illegal settlements and enforce compliance with planning regulations.

His remarks come as government intensifies efforts to improve service delivery and ensure orderly urbanisation across the country. Authorities have increasingly linked the growth of informal settlements to recurring challenges such as sewer bursts, water shortages, poor waste management and the high costs associated with regularising illegal developments.

Garwe urged prospective land buyers to verify the legitimacy of land transactions through local authorities and relevant government departments before making payments.

The warning forms part of broader government efforts to promote accountability in land administration, protect citizens from land fraud and ensure that all developments support the country’s development agenda.

As government pushes local authorities to meet minimum service delivery standards and align others national development goals, the Minister said there would be no room for land barons and other actors whose activities compromise planned growth and the delivery of essential services to communities.

June 17, 2026
75,000 Rural Residents Benefit as Zimbabwe Receives 300 China-Funded Boreholes

At least 75,000 rural Zimbabweans now have access to safe and clean water following the completion of a China-funded borehole drilling project that has delivered 300 boreholes to communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai and recurring droughts.

The Government of Zimbabwe officially received the boreholes on Friday during a handover ceremony at Runyararo in Chimanimani District, marking a significant milestone in the country’s post-disaster recovery and climate resilience efforts.

Minister Daniel Garwe and Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding during the official handover of 300 China-funded boreholes in Chimanimani on Friday. The project has improved access to clean water for an estimated 75,000 rural residents.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe described the initiative as a symbol of the enduring partnership between Zimbabwe and China and a practical intervention that is transforming lives in vulnerable communities.

“This occasion is not merely a ceremonial event, but a celebration of partnership, resilience and a shared commitment to improving the livelihoods of our people,” Garwe said.

The boreholes were financed by the Government of China in response to the devastating impact of Tropical Cyclone Idai, which struck eastern Zimbabwe in 2019, destroying infrastructure and leaving thousands without reliable access to clean water.

Although implementation was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project resumed after the signing of an implementation contract in April 2024 and was officially launched in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East Province, in July the same year.

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Under the programme, Manicaland Province received the largest allocation of 100 boreholes, while Masvingo received 68, Mashonaland East 66 and Midlands Province 66. Six additional boreholes were drilled in Bindura, Tsholotsho, Harare, Mberengwa, Murehwa and Masvingo districts, with three fitted with solar-powered systems to improve sustainability.

Garwe said the project played a critical role in cushioning communities against the effects of the 2024/25 El Niño-induced drought, which placed severe pressure on water supplies across rural Zimbabwe.

He added that the initiative aligns with the country’s National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030 objectives by expanding access to essential services while promoting climate-resilient infrastructure.

Describing the boreholes as “a source of life, dignity and hope,” the minister said the intervention had improved sanitation, strengthened public health, enhanced agricultural productivity and helped safeguard livestock in drought-prone areas.

The boreholes have earned the nickname “Wells of Happiness” among beneficiary communities.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding said the successful completion of the project reflected the strong and longstanding friendship between the two countries.

He noted that China had responded to Zimbabwe’s request for assistance during the 2024 El Niño-induced drought, leading to the drilling of 300 boreholes across 21 districts in Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo and Midlands provinces.

Ambassador Zhou praised both Chinese and Zimbabwean workers for overcoming difficult terrain and challenging working conditions to complete the project in less than two years.

According to the ambassador, China has drilled more than 1,300 boreholes across Zimbabwe over the past decade, benefiting approximately half a million people.

He also highlighted ongoing Chinese support in agriculture and food security, including emergency food assistance during the 2024 drought, agricultural training programmes, the Juncao Project and plans to rehabilitate nine irrigation schemes before the end of the year.

On trade and economic cooperation, Zhou welcomed China’s recently introduced zero-tariff policy for imports from Zimbabwe and other African countries, saying the measure would expand export opportunities for Zimbabwean products.

He said China remains the largest importer of Zimbabwean tobacco and macadamia nuts and is continuing to open its market to a wider range of Zimbabwean agricultural exports.

The handover ceremony comes as the Government accelerates efforts to complete housing projects for families affected by Cyclone Idai. Of the 224 disaster recovery houses earmarked for construction, 125 have been completed while 65 are currently under construction.

During the visit, Garwe also toured the Runyararo Housing Scheme, where the Department of Public Works is constructing homes for families displaced by Cyclone Eline.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Omphile Marupi, senior government officials, local leaders and representatives from the Chinese Embassy.

June 12, 2026