Insiza Rural District Council (Way-leaves) By-laws, 2025
Laying cable across Insiza council land now needs a wayleave permit costing US$150, with network boosters charged US$1 500 a year and operating without a permit costing US$200.
These by-laws require a wayleave permit before operator facilities or networks are installed on Insiza Rural District Council roads, road reserves or other council property.
Applications must show who the applicant is, demonstrate technical, legal and financial capacity, prove regulatory approval of the equipment, describe the facility and service area, and set out a construction schedule. The council may approve with conditions or reject with reasons, and a rejected applicant may appeal to the Administrative Court.
On approval, the council and the permit holder enter a wayleave lease agreement whose term is tied to the operator's licence. The by-laws also cover the sharing of operator facilities, the holder's obligations and indemnity, and removal of facilities on expiry — with the council entitled to disconnect or remove at the holder's cost where rentals are unpaid, the permit is breached, or facilities sit on council land without a permit or after expiry.
Charges are nil to apply, US$150 for the permit, nil for the lease agreement, nil in monthly lease rentals, and US$1 500 a year for a network booster. Penalties are US$200 for operating without a permit, US$100 for obstructing a designated officer and US$50 for emitting harmful substances; the entries for failing to preserve the property's aesthetics, failing to maintain facilities and failing to remove them after expiry are printed as nil.
The pricing sits well below the City of Masvingo's equivalent by-laws made in the same month, which charge US$800 a month in rentals and US$2 000 for operating without a permit.
What changed
- A wayleave permit is required before installing operator facilities on council property
- The permit costs US$150; the application and lease agreement are free and monthly rentals are printed as nil
- Network boosters are charged US$1 500 a year
- Operating without a permit costs US$200; obstructing an officer US$100; emitting harmful substances US$50
- The council may disconnect or remove facilities at the holder's cost for unpaid rentals or breach
Who this affects
- Telecoms operators and ISPs laying fibre in Insiza district
- Tower and network booster operators
- Utility contractors crossing council land
- Council engineering and revenue staff
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.