A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the establishment of Lupane Growth Point into a fully-fledged urban local authority after it emerged that the council has no capacity because of lack of government support and political will.
Moses Mugugunyeki
Lupane was designated to be the provincial capital for Matabeleland North province in 1999 with government taking the responsibility to develop the centre. Since then, there has been no meaningful development taking place at Lupane due to bureaucracy within the government system.
Lupane Local Board caretaker chairman, Christopher Chuma said the council was facing a plethora of challenges which negatively affected the urbanisation of the centre.
He said politicians had abandoned the centre yet they pressed for Lupane’s development as Matabeleland North’s provincial capital.
“Lupane’s creation as an urban centre derives from the political decision to designate the centre as Matabeleland North’s provincial capital, as opposed to a needs-driven scenario,” said Chuma.
“This means therefore that there must be sustained massive political will to ensure the successful completion of the urbanisation process.” Lupane Local Board is run by a caretaker administration.
