The country’s
Constitution which came into effect in 2013 after replacing the overused Lancaster
House Constitution of 1979, provides for devolution of State power to the
provinces as a way of empowering local communities to have greater say in the
development of their own communities. This provision is enshrined in Section
264 of the Constitution, which makes it clear that the objectives of devolution
are ‘to give powers of local governance to the people and enhance their
participation in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making
decisions affecting them’, and to ‘to recognise the right of communities to
manage their own affairs and to further their development’, among others. If
anything, this is a clear acknowledgement that resources of the country are not
being shared equitably among communities. We therefore are taken aback that
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has chosen to continue on his predecessor Robert
Mugabe’s intransigent path of boldly ignoring devolution, against letter and
spirit of the Constitution. After controversially winning the 2013 elections, Mugabe
simply chose to ignore the devolution clause and appointed provincial affairs
ministers instead of constituting the provincial councils as required by the
Constitution. That Zanu PF opposed devolution since the time of the Constitution-making
process is not a secret, but it must be noted that Mnangagwa, just as his
opposition rivals in the July 2018 elections, based his campaign on many things
including a pledge to implement devolution. It is therefore surprising that he
has chosen to do a Mugabe and appoint provincial affairs ministers instead of
directing his party, which has a two thirds majority in Parliament, to draft
and pass a law that operationalises provincial and metropolitan councils as
required by the Constitution. While the President and his officials are still
saying the right things about devolution, they are doing the exact opposite on
the ground. As it stands, provincial affairs ministers are unconstitutional
appointments. The flow of the country’s resources as well as decision-making
processes remain skewed in favour of Harare and that is detrimental to national
cohesion. People must have freedom to determine the use of their resources and
to decide on their development priorities. That can only be achieved if
devolution is implemented as a matter of urgency.
Constitution which came into effect in 2013 after replacing the overused Lancaster
House Constitution of 1979, provides for devolution of State power to the
provinces as a way of empowering local communities to have greater say in the
development of their own communities. This provision is enshrined in Section
264 of the Constitution, which makes it clear that the objectives of devolution
are ‘to give powers of local governance to the people and enhance their
participation in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making
decisions affecting them’, and to ‘to recognise the right of communities to
manage their own affairs and to further their development’, among others. If
anything, this is a clear acknowledgement that resources of the country are not
being shared equitably among communities. We therefore are taken aback that
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has chosen to continue on his predecessor Robert
Mugabe’s intransigent path of boldly ignoring devolution, against letter and
spirit of the Constitution. After controversially winning the 2013 elections, Mugabe
simply chose to ignore the devolution clause and appointed provincial affairs
ministers instead of constituting the provincial councils as required by the
Constitution. That Zanu PF opposed devolution since the time of the Constitution-making
process is not a secret, but it must be noted that Mnangagwa, just as his
opposition rivals in the July 2018 elections, based his campaign on many things
including a pledge to implement devolution. It is therefore surprising that he
has chosen to do a Mugabe and appoint provincial affairs ministers instead of
directing his party, which has a two thirds majority in Parliament, to draft
and pass a law that operationalises provincial and metropolitan councils as
required by the Constitution. While the President and his officials are still
saying the right things about devolution, they are doing the exact opposite on
the ground. As it stands, provincial affairs ministers are unconstitutional
appointments. The flow of the country’s resources as well as decision-making
processes remain skewed in favour of Harare and that is detrimental to national
cohesion. People must have freedom to determine the use of their resources and
to decide on their development priorities. That can only be achieved if
devolution is implemented as a matter of urgency.
