Government Acts to Address Noise from Churches and Ban Residential Fuel Stations
The government has announced a significant reform aimed at curbing disturbances in urban neighborhoods by enforcing soundproofing measures for churches and prohibiting the establishment of fuel stations in residential areas.
In a press conference held last week, Mr. Shingirai Mushamba, chief director of spatial planning and development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, detailed the latest measures designed to restore peace in residential communities.
New Regulations for Places of Worship and Fuel Stations
Effective immediately, all churches operating in residential areas will be mandated to conduct services in enclosed, soundproofed buildings.
Furthermore, any new fuel stations will only be authorized if they are part of formally approved commercial centers, a strict enforcement of existing planning laws that have been inconsistently applied.
“Every place of worship operating in residential areas will now need to conduct services in enclosed, soundproofed buildings,” emphasized Mr. Mushamba.
“We are also putting an end to the establishment of new fuel service stations in these areas unless they are part of approved shopping centres.”
These changes are grounded in existing municipal and planning laws.
The **Harare Noise (Amendment) By-laws, 2014**, prohibit activities that disturb the peace, including the use of loudspeakers unless sanctioned by the council.
Additionally, the **Harare (Control of Worship in Open Spaces) By-laws, 2016**, require churches to secure permits for open-air services, restrict worship hours, and afford the council the power to revoke permits deemed a public nuisance.
On the fuel station front, the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:13) outlines a strict framework requiring public notification and adherence to zoning laws.
Fuel stations can only be approved in designated areas under the Harare Master Plan and are not to be established in residential zones without formal rezoning.
Urban planning experts have welcomed the government’s initiative but caution against oversimplifying the issues at hand.
Dr. Percy Toriro, an urban planning expert, stated that while the measures are a reaffirmation of longstanding principles, there is a need to adapt zoning laws to modern urban needs.
“The balance between public good, convenience, and ease of doing business is a delicate one,” Dr. Toriro remarked.
He advocated for mixed-use developments that better reflect the evolving needs of urban life.
Urban planner Ms. Fadzai Nhemachena echoed these sentiments, noting that current disturbances stem from unregulated growth and the need for effective urban planning.
“Restricting these activities makes neighborhoods safer and more livable,” she stated.
However, Nhemachena also raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of strict enforcement, warning that many of these activities have arisen due to a lack of viable alternatives in formal commercial spaces.
“Success will hinge on how these measures are implemented,” she cautioned. “Authorities need to provide realistic transition options while striking a balance between regulation and economic survival.”
In a move to ensure transparency in land-use applications, local authorities have been instructed to freeze all such applications unless they carry written approval from provincial planning officers.
Starting from February 10, 2026, an expedited waiver system will allow developers to directly submit applications for land-use changes to local councils.
Local councils will be required to provide weekly reports of these applications, and quarterly compliance reports will be mandatory.
The collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police will enhance enforcement, signaling the government’s commitment to restoring order in urban planning.
