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In his position paper on the subject, Dr Chombo, who is a scholar and an accomplished academic, said devolution of power was not the solution to the country’s problems.
He urged Zimbabweans to examine the subject thoughtfully and warned them against embracing it.
Dr Chombo was responding to widespread calls for devolution of power by some political parties and civic society groups who contend that devolving power would enhance development at local level.
“The constitution-making process has stimulated debate on devolution. To some extent, the debate has become debased, distorted, misleading and deeply polarising,” said Dr Chombo.
“It is important to note that devolution would not solve Zimbabwe’s problems. Rather, attention should be given to restructuring at the national level, a stronger parliament, a truly competent judiciary and institutions that are well resourced.”
Dr Chombo said the concept of devolution was often confused with decentralisation.
“While devolution refers to the statutory granting of powers from central government of a sovereign state to sub-national levels, decentralisation is the transfer of power from central government to lower levels in a political, administrative and territorial hierarchy,” he said.
“Anti-devolution proponents content that devolution of power increases the risks of ethnic and civil strife.
“They argue that loosening central control triggers an inevitable sequence of ever-greater demands for autonomy, ratcheting up the centrifugal pressures on the state,” said Dr Chombo.
He said devolution of power, instead of building a stronger sense of ownership and affinity with the state, promotes differences between regions.
Dr Chombo said devolution would compromise the national agenda, adding that the system was prone to abuse by local leaders.
“Devolution is prone to abuse by local leaders, who may stake out hard-line positions at the expense of regional priorities, thereby deepening political polarisation,” he said.
Dr Chombo said intervention by central government was healthy as it enhanced efficient supervision to curb excesses.
“Devolution in the midst of high levels of unemployment, polarisation and poverty may attract external infiltration by external forces who are opposed to the policies that benefit Zimbabweans such as indigenisation and economic empowerment and the land reform programme.
“Devolution limits central government’s oversight and increases inter-regional conflict, particularly in the re-allocation of resources between regions precipitating demands in resource rich regions for separation,” he said.
Dr Chombo said devolution does not cater for equalisation of districts which are not endowed with even natural resources.
He said central government was critical in fostering developmental equity among communities.
Dr Chombo castigated the proponents of devolution for being overly preoccupied with how to restrain the central government’s power while overlooking the protection it offers to poor minorities.
“Accordingly devolution by itself cannot be a panacea for problems of accountability. In Zimbabwe, the central Government is well-known for encouraging local authorities to act in the interest of the public,” he said.
“As such, local government institutions are intricately connected to the central Government.”
Dr Chombo said the solution to the country’s problems was decentralisation as opposed to devolution.
He said decentralisation was a favourable system of governance for improving public sector efficiency, responsiveness and accountability.
Dr Chombo said decentralisation provides citizens with improved opportunities for participation and ownership, which contribute to social and political stability.
“The Government of Zimbabwe should remain committed to the decentralisation agenda. Devolution will have divisive effects on the socio-political disposition of our people and therefore should not be included in our new constitution,” he said.
President Mugabe and Vice-President John Landa Nkomo have also insisted that decentralisation was the only way towards achieving meaningful development.
Online Reporter