By Maxwell Mapungwana
The Government has directed all Rural District Councils (RDCs) operating offices outside their areas of jurisdiction to relocate to their respective administrative territories by December 31, 2026.
The directive is contained in Local Authority Circular Number 6 of 2026, dated October 21, issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
It is addressed to all chief executive officers, town clerks and town secretaries.
In the circular, the Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, raised concern over the continued operation of some RDCs from urban centres outside their jurisdictions.
Muguti said the practice had disadvantaged the rural communities they were established to serve.
The Ministry noted that some rural local authorities had been operating from urban areas at the expense of their communities.
The situation has also resulted in tensions with other local authorities.
Eng Muguti said locating council offices within their respective jurisdictions was critical to strengthening public confidence, improving accessibility and ensuring that local authorities remained connected to the communities they served.
“The location of council offices within their localities boosts public confidence, and people can more easily identify with their council,” reads part of the circular.
Movements aimed at improving service delivery
He said local authorities needed to move closer to residents and maintain a visible presence within their administrative territories to improve service delivery.
“It is therefore imperative for local authorities to move closer to the people to expedite their service delivery mandate,” said Eng Muguti.
The circular further directs affected councils to identify strategic locations where they will establish their own civic centres to facilitate the relocation process.
“All Rural District Councils whose offices are situated in urban areas should relocate to their respective areas of jurisdiction by December 31, 2026.”
The directive is expected to strengthen the institutional presence of RDCs in rural communities.
It also reinforces the Government’s decentralisation and devolution agenda, which seeks to bring decision-making structures and public services closer to communities.
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