If one thing has defined Zimbabwe, it's that people can start churches anywhere and no longer go to designated areas which has led to the emerging of churches in residential areas and some even contact evening services which is not a bad thing but a rather uncomfortable thing for those who live closeby and don't go to the same church. In a move to try and reduce noise and congestion in residential places, Government has ordered all churches operating in residential areas to install soundproofing and has imposed an immediate ban on the establishment of new fuel service stations in housing zones as part of a nationwide crackdown on urban disturbances.The Government has ordered all churches operating in residential areas to install soundproofing and has imposed an immediate ban on the establishment of new fuel service stations in housing zones as part of a nationwide crackdown on urban disturbances.
The directive came from Shingirai Mushamba, the chief director of spatial planning and development. He stated the government is now enforcing strict measures to control disruptive noise emanating from places of worship. This forms a core part of a wider crackdown on urban disturbances that also includes a ban on new fuel stations in residential zones.
“All places of worship operating in residential areas must conduct services in enclosed, soundproofed buildings,” Mr Mushamba said.
Speaking at a press conference, Mushamba left no room for ambiguity regarding the new requirements for churches. The rules mandate significant physical alterations to church buildings to prevent sound from escaping into the community. Speaking at the press conference on land-use applications, chief director of spatial planning and development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Shingirai Mushamba said the measures were aimed at regulating obtrusive developments in residential neighbourhoods.
This order means churches will need to invest in acoustic insulation, sealed windows, and proper doors to contain the music, preaching, and fervent prayer that characterise their services. The regulation applies to all denominations but is seen as a direct response to long-standing grievances about the amplified sound from vibrant Pentecostal services disrupting daily life in suburbs across the country.
He said retail businesses would also be restricted to designated commercial nodes and barred from operating wholesale or distribution activities within residential areas. Furthermore, fuel service stations would no longer be permitted in residential zones unless they form part of approved shopping centres.
“Fuel stations must comply with statutory buffer requirements and include road widening or turning lanes to manage traffic,” he said.
Local authorities have been directed to suspend all land-use change applications unless they carry written approval from the provincial planning officer. The ministry also made public notification mandatory, requiring councils to inform stakeholders of proposed land-use changes through billboards, social media platforms, official websites and local radio stations.
Meanwhile, an expedited waiver process for land-use changes will take effect on February 10, 2026, as the Government reviews the national moratorium on change-of-use applications imposed in May 2025. Under the new system, developers will submit waiver applications directly to local councils instead of central ministry offices, shifting initial processing to the local level.
How this will be enforced?
Police And Quarterly Checks
The government has outlined a strict compliance regime to ensure that churches comply with the new soundproofing rule. Authorities plan to monitor the situation closely, moving beyond simple warnings to active enforcement. Local councils have been tasked with overseeing the new regulation. They must submit mandatory quarterly compliance reports to the central government. Mushamba indicated that councils would not be acting alone in this endeavour.
Mr Mushamba said compliance would be monitored through mandatory quarterly reports, with enforcement supported by a whole-of-council approach involving the Zimbabwe Republic Police, where necessary.
This statement confirms that police assistance could be sought to enforce the order if churches fail to comply. The involvement of the Zimbabwe Republic Police signals the seriousness with which the government is treating the issue of noise pollution from religious institutions.
The reasons behind
The church soundproofing order is not an isolated decision. It coincides with a major suspension of all land-use change applications unless approved by a provincial officer. This is part of a review of a national moratorium from May 2025. An expedited waiver process is set to begin on February 10, 2026. Furthermore, the government has made public notification mandatory for any proposed land-use changes. Councils must now use billboards, social media, and local radio to inform communities of potential developments.
It remains to be seen, how all this will be implemented and enforced.
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