The Urban Planning Development Control Tracking Model for Mvurwi Town, Zimbabwe: Case in E-Planning Via Geoinformatics

Abstract

The urban planning system in Zimbabwe, long modelled along the British system and its spatial planning concepts, principles, processes and legislation, influences in shaping the spatial mapping of towns and cities and the overall built-in environment in the country. The study focuses on critically assessing the feasibility of utilising e-development control processes in tracking urban plans with a view to developing an e- development control model. The study assumes the following objectives: identifying underlying frameworks for development plans in Mvurwi; evaluating current development control practices in Mvurwi; assessing current methodologies used for development control processes in Mvurwi; and developing an e-development control model for Mvurwi. This study uses a transformative research paradigm and mixed methodological approach, with a sample size of 302 respondents from five classes of Mvurwi property owners. An inductive approach to research is employed using documentary analysis, questionnaire administration and key informant interviews as the research techniques. The research established that the Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013 Amendment (No 20) (Constitution) recognises devolution and decentralisation of state power and provides Mvurwi Town Council (MTC) constitutional protection. The Urban Councils Act regulates local authorities and urban settlements, and it addresses concerns relating to estate development and housing provision and construction. The study also found out that the current development control frameworks and planning services delivery positively correlate with each other (r =0.541, p of 0.000 significant at the 0.05 level). The research concludes on development of an e-development model which discovered the relationship between geoinformatics in e-planning and enhancement of the accurate information essential to development planning, monitoring and execution are part of the development control methods in Mvurwi. The study recommends that Zimbabwe local authorities should embrace the application of technology in all planning service for them to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in development control