This
site is designed for Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator versions
4 and above and a screen resolution of at least 800x600
|
|
|
Conflicting laws delay assembly’s development plan
By
Limbani Davis Nsapato - 27-08-2002 |
|
|
The Blantyre City Assembly Urban Structure Plan submitted to the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Surveys in 2000 is yet to be implemented as it is awaiting the minister’s approval.
Commissioner for Department of Physical Planning Bester Kacheche attributed the delay to a confusion brought in by laws governing land development and the recent decentralisation programme.
“While the Town and Country Planning Act of 1988 gives powers to the minister to make approvals for any development plans, the 1998 Local Government Act gives mandate to respective assemblies to approve such plans themselves,” said Kacheche.
He said the department must first reconcile the two conflicting Acts to determine who approves the plans.
In the event that assemblies are granted mandate to make approvals of the land development, Kacheche pointed out that the plans will, nevertheless, be required to pass through the department to check that technicalities which go with such plans are in order.
“You can appreciate that not all assemblies would ably possess the capacity to come up with plans of this nature. So at one point in time we would still get a glimpse of the proposals, but from a technical perspective,” said Kacheche.
The problem has been compounded by persistent transfers in the ministry involving principal secretaries, their deputies and commissioners making the plan a victim of neglect in the process with some documents accompanying it reportedly missing.
When the development plan was initially submitted to the minister for approval, it was turned back to the department for more clarification, Kacheche said, adding that at present all efforts are being made to have it approved.
Hatched in 1999, the document evaluates the present status quo of conditions and trends in the city and establishes planning implications thereby exposing a new vision and objectives for future development of the city.
It also identifies the development gaps, needs and requirements for the city’s future acting as a guide to the assembly planning committee in making rational and consistent decisions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
