Richard Shumba

Residents of Gweru have largely welcomed the government’s plans to grant municipal police greater enforcement powers, believing this move could help local authorities address frequent by-law violations that have become common in many urban areas.

Cabinet recently approved the Municipal Police and Courts Bill, which aims to empower municipal police to arrest, investigate, and prosecute offenders who violate local authority by-laws.
The proposed legislation intends to enhance councils’ ability to enforce regulations on issues such as illegal vending, littering, public urination, and pirate taxis.

This Bill is seen as a significant step toward improving order in towns and cities where local authorities have often depended on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to take action against offenders.

City of Gweru Mayor Martin Chivhoko welcomed the proposed legislation, stating it would strengthen local authorities’ capacity to enforce council regulations and tackle persistent challenges affecting urban centers.

“This is a significant and welcome development for local governance,” said Chivhoko.

“The current system, where municipal police can only issue tickets and refer matters to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, has limited councils’ ability to effectively enforce by-laws.”

He highlighted that issues such as illegal vending, littering, and pirate taxis continue to pose challenges for local authorities, making stronger enforcement necessary.

“Granting municipal police powers to arrest, investigate, and prosecute offenders will help close the enforcement gap and improve compliance with council regulations.
However, the success of the Bill will depend on proper training, adequate resources, and clear operational guidelines for officers,” he added.

Chivhoko emphasized that close cooperation between municipal police and the Zimbabwe Republic Police would be essential to ensure the effective implementation of the proposed law and to prevent jurisdictional conflicts.

Cornelia Seliphiwe, Director of the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association, stated that residents understood the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and recognized the challenges councils face in maintaining order.

“We support efforts to ensure that our cities are orderly and that by-laws are respected. Municipal police must have the capacity to perform their duties effectively,” said Seliphiwe.

However, he cautioned that the success of the proposed law would depend on ensuring that residents clearly understand the regulations they are expected to follow.

“The challenge is not necessarily the existence of by-laws but whether people have access to them. Residents need to know what is permitted and what is prohibited so that compliance is based on understanding rather than fear of punishment,” he explained.

Seliphiwe encouraged local authorities to make by-laws more accessible through municipal websites, community meetings, and other public information platforms.

He mentioned that residents’ associations were willing to collaborate with councils to educate communities about municipal regulations and help residents understand their obligations.

“Once the by-laws are made available, residents’ associations can play a role in disseminating information and encouraging compliance. Education and enforcement should go hand in hand,” he stated.

However, some informal traders expressed concerns about the proposed law, arguing that councils should prioritize service delivery alongside enforcement.

Gweru vendor Patrick Njiva noted that residents would be more receptive to stricter by-law enforcement if local authorities continued to improve essential services such as refuse collection, water supply, road maintenance, and street lighting.

“We understand the need for order, but people also want to see improvements in basic services. Enforcement and service delivery should go hand in hand,” Njiva emphasized.

He also underscored the importance of improving service delivery alongside enforcement measures, arguing that residents are more likely to comply with regulations when they see councils actively addressing community needs.

The Municipal Police and Courts Bill is expected to close long-standing enforcement gaps that have limited councils’ ability to deal directly with by-law offenders.

At the same time, residents believe that greater public awareness and engagement will be crucial to ensure the new powers achieve their intended purpose.

If enacted, this legislation will represent a significant shift in local governance, granting councils more direct responsibility for maintaining order while emphasizing renewed cooperation between local authorities and the communities they serve.