HARARE — cabinet has approved the Municipal Police and Courts Bill, 2026, which will empower local authorities to establish dedicated municipal police services and municipal courts to enforce by-laws, information minister Zhemu Soda said on Tuesday.
Briefing journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting in Harare, Soda said the bill was presented by the chairman of the cabinet committee on legislation, the minister of justice, legal and parliamentary affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi.
“In line with the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15] and the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13], local authorities are empowered to formulate and enforce regulation of matters falling within their jurisdiction,” Soda said.
He said the promotion of good governance, efficient service delivery and access to justice required coordinated structures and strengthened municipal enforcement of by-laws, including the apprehension, investigation and prosecution of offenders.
The bill strengthens the legal framework for municipalities to establish and maintain dedicated, professional police services focused on community safety, by-law enforcement, traffic management and local crime prevention.
It also provides for the creation of municipal courts, defines their jurisdiction — including over municipal by-laws, minor offences and traffic violations — and provides for the appointment of municipal magistrates, among other matters to be prescribed by law.
Soda said local governance structures would be enhanced in line with constitutional devolution principles, improving public safety and environmental management outcomes.
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart welcomed the development, commending the minister of local government, Daniel Garwe, for securing cabinet approval for the bill.
“This bill, when it becomes law, will greatly enhance the municipal police’s ability to enforce our by-laws, which in turn will lead to a cleaner, healthier and more orderly city,” Coltart said.
