Senior
Lecturer
at
the
Zimbabwe
Open
University,
Tobias
Guzura,
said
the
Constitution
clearly
provides
for
devolution,
but
the
government
has
yet
to
fully
implement
it.
“Although
the
constitution
mandated
devolution,
actual
implementation
has
been
slow
and
contested.
Provincial
councils
were
constitutionally
recognised
but
have
not
been
fully
operationalised
due
to
lack
of
enabling
legislation,”
said
Guzura.
The
issue
was
a
key
focus
at
the
recent
National
Residents’
Summit
in
Bulawayo,
hosted
by
the
Bulawayo
Progressive
Residents
Association
(BPRA).
Guzura
acknowledged
some
progress
in
2019,
when
the
government
began
disbursing
five
percent
of
national
revenue
to
subnational
units
as
part
of
fiscal
devolution.
“In
2019,
the
government
began
implementing
intergovernmental
fiscal
transfers,
disbursing
5
percent
of
national
revenue
to
subnational
units,
a
milestone
in
fiscal
devolution.
The
devolution
and
declaration
policy
of
2020
provided
a
policy
framework,
but
critics
argue
it
falls
short
of
constitutional
expectations
since
legal
reforms
to
align
Acts
to
Chapter
14
remain
pending,”
he
said.
He
added
that
fear
of
weakening
central
authority,
political
resistance,
and
lack
of
resources
have
hindered
meaningful
devolution,
leaving
local
authorities
with
little
power
over
critical
decisions.
“In
the
legislative
sphere,
we
have
got
a
scenario
where
local
authorities
have
a
law-making
authority,
and
their
law-making
power
primarily
comes
from
the
Urban
Councils
Act,
specifically
section
198.
They
can
pass
by-laws,
but
the
biggest
problem
is
that
even
if
they
pass
by-laws,
whatever
they
decide
on
is
subject
to
ministerial
approval.
They
can
propose
by-laws,
and
the
minister
can
shoot
them
down,”
said
Guzura.
Financial
challenges
also
remain.
Section
301(3)
of
the
Constitution
requires
the
central
government
to
allocate
at
least
five
percent
of
national
revenues
to
local
authorities,
but
disbursements
have
often
been
delayed
or
restricted.
“Disbursements
have
been
erratic.
They
have
been
delayed
or
they
have
come
with
labels
already
attached
to
them.
You
are
given
money
which
you
are
already
told
what
to
use
it
for.
So
in
other
words,
you
haven’t
been
given
money.
We
have
got
local
authorities
who
on
paper
are
being
given
resources,
but
in
reality
the
resources
are
tokenistic,
they
are
delayed,
or
they
come
already
spent,”
said
Guzura.
Residents
said
devolution
could
improve
service
delivery
if
implemented
fully.
Precious
Shumba
from
Harare
said:
“Local
leaders
understand
community
needs
better,
but
they
are
often
powerless
because
decisions
are
still
made
by
the
central
government.”
Nomalanga
Dube
from
Bulawayo
added:
“Communities
know
what
they
need
most.
If
funds
and
power
were
truly
given
to
local
councils,
we
would
see
real
change
in
our
cities.
Things
like
water,
roads,
and
refuse
collection
would
improve
because
decisions
would
be
made
closer
to
the
people.”
Tendai
Moyo
from
Gweru
said
devolution
would
also
promote
transparency
and
accountability.
“When
power
and
money
are
controlled
only
in
Harare,
it
becomes
difficult
to
track
how
they
are
used.
Devolution
would
make
it
easier
for
citizens
to
question
local
leaders
directly
and
ensure
that
development
funds
are
used
properly,”
said
Moyo.