Times Of Swaziland: NEW MBABANE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME DEVELOPMENT AIMS TO ADDRESS EXODUS OF BIG BUSINESSES

NEW MBABANE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME DEVELOPMENT AIMS TO ADDRESS EXODUS OF BIG
BUSINESSES
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Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 17/10/2024 14:39:00


MBABANE – Over the years, Mbabane, in particular, the CBD has experienced
stagnant growth, lack of available vacant plots for new developments, urban
blight, and general urban decay.
This phenomenon has further led to an exodus of corporate businesses and
State-owned entities to other newer towns, where vacant land is available for
establishing their corporate headquarters. In that regard, the Municipal Council
of Mbabane (MCM) seeks to prepare a strategic document to further focus on the
revitalisation of the CBD and its immediate surrounding zones using the
inner-city urban design framework, which largely comprises of the commercial,
light industrial, recreational and public facility zones. A South African
consultant firm, Markewicz Redman Partnership has been earmarked to undertake
the preparation of the new Mbabane Town Planning Scheme and the Inner-City Urban
Design Framework.
Scheme
These planning documents are separate but are intricately intertwined. The
current Mbabane Town Planning Scheme 2016-2026 will soon lapse and, therefore,
there is a need for a new scheme for the next 10 years to replace the current
one. Following a competitive bidding process, Markewicz Redman Partnership
emerged the best evaluated bidder, surpassing the local VIP-Cadre which was
technically non-responsive. The proposed contract price for this tender is E 2
759 655. The preparation of the Town Planning Scheme is a legislative
requirement, hence the need to prepare the compliant scheme. The Town Planning
Act, No. 45 of 1961 states that for every local authority established in terms
of the Urban Government Act, No. 6 of 1969, there shall be a Town Planning
Scheme developed and approved by the minister responsible for local government
affairs.
The Town Planning Scheme is in terms of the law, with a fixed period of
operation and the law provides for interim reviews and scheme amendments, while
new schemes are developed once the period of operation lapses. According to
Section 21 of the Town Planning Act 1961, an approved scheme may be varied,
modified or revoked and Section 21(4) provides that every approved scheme shall
be reviewed periodically, at intervals of not more than 5 years. The current
scheme has not been reviewed since its approval in 2016. Notwithstanding the
legal requirements, MCM has found it necessary to prepare a new TPS that will
address the current city challenges and operational challenges of the existing
TPS.
Development
The purpose for the town planning scheme is to ensure co-ordinated and
harmonious development of the urban area, including where necessary the
identification of new growth areas, new spatial development opportunities,
reconstruction and redevelopment of any part of the city.  The scheme will
effectively promote transportation connectivity with new and existing proposals,
good public health through land use management, amenities, convenience, general
public welfare, as well as efficiency and economic growth in the process of
spatial developments.
It is worth noting that the current scheme does not address how council should
deal with applications for rezonings, in the event the application or property
is owned or initiated by the council. The current processes assume that
application will only be made by external parties. It also does not have a live
or systematic means or tools for updating applications and changes and
conditions issued to applications. The current filing and records keeping needs
to be improved, in order to have a live reliable system and such as system needs
to link with the GIS and or information system of council.