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Manicaland Correspondent
GOVERNMENT officials, stakeholders and development partners drawn from across Manicaland on Tuesday held a one-day conference to sensitise each other on the devolution process. The conference was meant to discuss and share best approaches towards implementing the process.
It was running under the theme: “Position Yourself at the Heart of the Devolution For 2030: Celebrating Devolution Ten Governments, One Nation.”
Speaking at the conference, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said: “Devolution of power is enshrined in Zimbabwe’s new 2013 Constitution as one of the country’s founding values and principles.
“Zimbabwe’s objective of devolution of governmental powers include to recognise the right of communities to manage their own affairs, to further their own development and ensure the equitable sharing of local and national resources.”
Dr Gwaradzimba said the objective of devolution was to transfer responsibilities and resources from the national Government to establish a sound financial base for each provincial metropolitan council and local authority.
She said the conference came at an opportune time after Parliament recently ratified and adopted devolution provision into law.
“It must be understood that the objective is decentralisation of power to local Government and its strengthening through constitutionalisation,” said Dr Gwaradzimba.
“The main objective is to create a Government that is close to people and responsible for addressing their day-to-day needs and requirements.
“Constitution stresses that the purpose of devolution is for local people to participate in making decisions that affect them and that should be made possible by engagement of citizens and local authority.”
Dr Gwaradzimba said the important aspect of the relationship between local authority and its people was through service delivery.
She said in some areas people resorted to mobilising their own resources for service provision within their communities after realising delays by central Government.
Dr Gwaradzimba said there were many opportunities derived from devolution, considering that Manicaland was endowed with many natural resources.
She said allocation of resources and their governance was the Second Republic’s first priority towards changing people’s livelihoods.
“His Excellency President Mnangagwa would want to see livelihoods of people in provinces improved through beneficiation of their resources,” she said.
Dr Gwaradzimba urged people to share experiences and skills acquired from various backgrounds to fully interrogate the devolution, making sure people fully understand and appreciate it.
Others who contributed during the conference were former World Bank country director to Zimbabwe Dr Lenneiye Mungai, ARDA board chairperson Mr Basil Nyabadza and Mr Richard Mvududu, who is the Diamond Beneficiation of Zimbabwe chairperson.
Online Reporter