4 December 2025 | Nqobile Bhebhe | Heraldonline
THE City of Bulawayo has selected Masvingo a province far away from the city as the venue for its crucial 2026–2030 Strategic Planning Workshop, after failing to secure a suitable facility in Gweru, a council report shows.
The workshop, scheduled for 8-14 December comes at a critical time as the city concludes implementation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and prepares to align its next five-year plan with the newly finalised National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2).
According to the latest agenda tabled during the last full council meeting of the year on Wednesday, the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, on Monday. told the General Purpose Committee that the Strategic Planning evaluation workshop would guide the City’s vision as it concluded NDS 1 and commenced NDS 2.
“It would play a critical role in supporting MSDS rollout, advancing Results-Based Budgeting implementation and serving as a benchmark for performance assessment going forward to enhance quality service delivery,” Mr Dube is quoted saying. Council has already advised the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works of its intent to host the workshop outside the city’s jurisdiction.
“The Town Clerk had written to the Ministry advising of Council’s intent to hold the Strategic Planning Workshop outside Council’s jurisdiction. The venue for the workshop was Masvingo,” added Mr Dube.
He also noted that a comprehensive review of the outgoing 2021–2025 strategy was underway.
“Council was currently finalising Step 8, which involved preparing the 2021-2025 Strategy Evaluation Report. In line with this process, stakeholder input had been sought through physical meetings and online tools.
“A public meeting was convened to review the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan and to gather input toward the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, including priority areas.
“A draft of the 2021-2025 Strategy Evaluation Report containing the findings would be circulated on Thursday 4th December, 2025. Invitation letters had also been sent to targeted stakeholders to attend the workshop in Masvingo.”
However, debate arose after councillors raised concerns regarding the choice of venue and the implications of hosting the workshop locally. City Mayor, Councillor David Coltart indicated he had scheduling challenges and proposed that the meeting be held closer to the city.
“The matter was considered and His Worship the Mayor (Senator D Coltart) stated that he had been notified late of the workshop, hence he had other commitments that clashed with the proposed dates.
“He therefore had suggested that the workshop be held at Matopo or locally to support businesses that were paying rates to Council, with the arrangement that Councillors would be paid allowances to attend the workshop.
“He therefore requested the Town Clerk to engage the Minister of Local Government and Public Works regarding the conduct of paid workshops within the City.
“If the Committee was of a different opinion from his, he would attend the workshop but not for the entire week. In his absence, the Deputy Mayor would be Acting Mayor,” reads part of the minutes.
But some councillors dismissed the idea of a local workshop, arguing that attendance would be compromised. Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu said: “Workshops within the City would be poorly attended since Councillors would be close to their families and the wards in which they operated.” Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo concurred, recalling that council was barred from paying allowances for in-city workshops.
“He also felt that workshops within the City would be poorly attended.” However, Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo noted that even out-of-town workshops had experienced low attendance.
Mr Dube indicated the significance of the Masvingo workshop in finalising the city’s development direction.
He explained that the 2026 budget had been crafted before NDS 2 was rolled out.
“The NDS 2 had since been finalised and Council was now required to submit its budget and strategic plan. As initially indicated, the Strategic Planning Workshop would be held from 8th to 14th December, 2025 in Masvingo.
“He highlighted that Council had failed to secure a suitable venue for the workshop in Gweru and it could only be found in Masvingo.” He stressed the importance of councillors’ participation.
“He further emphasised that the workshop was important for Councillors, as they would contribute to the formulation of the City’s vision for the next five years.
“At this workshop, Council would review the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan and formulate the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, the 2026 Annual Plan, the Town Clerk’s contract, and the Mayor’s contract.”