Support devolution, local authorities told

Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent

Midlands provincial administrator Mr Albiot Maronge has implored local authorities and other stakeholders to adapt to the new demands of devolution as enunciated by the new political dispensation in a bid to achieve a middle economy status by 2030.

Mr Maronge made the remarks during a Kwekwe District Development Planning and Management Workshop in Redcliff on Tuesday.

He said devolution was introduced to address implementation of projects at grassroots level, a challenge which has been stalling progress for a while.

“There are lots of changes that are taking place and as local authorities we have to adapt to those changes,” he said.

“There is a new Government in place that restructured the Government and introduced the devolution concept.

“Government has since shifted ground in a significant way and let us also respond to this shift and ask ourselves whether we are doing enough to run with the new agenda.

“My fear is that we might remain stuck in the pre-colonial era when a lot has changed. There have been watershed changes that were effected by the new Government in the country.”

Mr Maronge said at district level, the devolution concept carries with it the District Development Committees (DDC) whose mandate is to provide technical and development expertise, as well as coordinate implementation of programmes on the ground and reviewing progress.

He said despite changes or directives at national level, there has been little that has been done towards implementing the projects at local level, hence the devolution in a three tier Government system.

“Implementation has been a challenge with a number of projects as the phase has been a huge gap in most local authorities,” said Mr Maronge.

“The DDCs then come in to solve the implementation challenges and make sure on behalf of Government that projects are implemented.”

The DDC, he said, was also put in place to coordinate projects, bringing together local authorities, Government departments, business community and non-governmental organisations.

Mr Maronge acknowledged that Kwekwe as a district was unique in that it has three local authorities, adding that the role of a DDC would be more significant in such a set up.