The Sunday Mail
Devolution
Sikhanyisiwe Ncube
The remarks made by Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, sometime in 2019 at that country’s devolution series reflected on the successes of the devolution programme in the European country over the past two decades.
She highlighted the benefits in terms of attracting investment through lower tiers of government while pointing out the rocky road that had been traversed.
Kenya, on the other hand, has also made significant headway.
The World Bank posits that the devolution train in Kenya has already left the station: “The challenge is to make sure it arrives at its destination, safely and on time.’’
These two references, amongst several others not included, support the thinking that devolution is a process rather than an event.
Devolution has often come as a thrilling approach which raises the hopes for citizens’ involvement in decisions that improve their quality of life.
For central Government, there is the anxiety of steering the programme to achieve better outcomes while effecting corrections without being seen as interfering.
Central Government is also seized with an increased responsibility to track that these tiers of Government are more accountable for development results.
Second Republic commitments
Zimbabwe joins other nations that have already started making inroads in implementing devolution. While addressing the Sixth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development recently, President Emmerson Mnangagwa reaffirmed the country’s commitment to implement devolution.
The constitutional provision which provides a funded mandate is noteworthy.
The New Dispensation has come as a white knight to rescue lower tiers of Government and enhance service delivery as devolution gathers momentum.
Government has already dangled a carrot to the lower tiers of Government and the key question is: What next now that development has been brought closer?
The answer to this question lies in two parts, with Government responding to policy and framework modalities, while the lower tiers have to respond to their ability to judiciously manage resource endowments towards achieving and sustaining growth, including improving competitiveness within various jurisdictions.
This comes with increased responsibility to become more accountable for development results.
A view from Manicaland
In this write-up, we explore how devolution is building momentum with particular focus on three districts in Manicaland.
Indications on the ground in this particular province reflect a robust take-off which requires continued support and nurturing.
Disbursements are made in terms of Section 301 of the Constitution, which provides for the allocation of Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (IGFT) from central Government to provincial and local tiers of Government.
The funds are meant to support devolution of Governmental powers and responsibilities.
The Constitution states that in providing for inter-governmental transfers the following, among others, should be taken into account:
The need to provide basic services, including educational and health facilities, water, roads, social amenities and electricity to marginalised areas; and
Developmental and other needs of provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities.
Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has often called upon local authorities to refer to relevant legislation as they execute their duties.
He argues that it is crucial to systematically transform the role of councils so that they respond to the new economic order.
He reckons that with devolution comes more responsibility to ensure local economic development.
A clear trajectory for devolution is the renewed sense of purpose to map parameters for socio-economic growth.
Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Mr Zvinechimwe Churu is the focal figure in the ministry who is mandated to implement devolution.
He brings on board vast knowledge and experience in the field of economics.
He also believes that the new thinking within the context of the devolution architecture should be driven by promoting inclusive growth and ensuring that the ideals in Vision 2030 are achieved.
Mr Churu has called for Provincial Development Coordinators to champion economic development by aggressively attracting investment and working closely with all stakeholders to foster increased economic participation.
Projects in Communities
Nzvimbe villagers in Makoni District have a good story to tell following the construction of a state-of-the art clinic, which will see them accessing basic health services at their doorstep.
Mr John Nyika, Ward 31 councillor, said devolution had managed to bring the stalled project to life.
He believes that Government support came at the right time.
Pius Mushaya, the administration and social services officer for Makoni District, said the project would be completed by the end of March.
The clinic is expected to benefit more than 14 000 people.
For young people such as Trust Dishi, who is assisting with construction works, and Kudzai Goroni, who works as a general hand, the project has not only created employment for them, but it has enabled them to participate in the development of the area.
Makoni’s District Development Coordinator (DDC) Mr Edwin Mashindi said they are concentrating on projects such as navigable roads, access to health facilities and infrastructure development that have an impact on people’s lives.
Makoni RDC is presently implementing nine devolution projects that are at various stages of completion.
The district is also repairing 19 facilities that were damaged by natural disasters.
Separately, Rusape Town Council is also presently trying to address water and health-related challenges through:
- Purchase of CATMIX for road resealing;
- Purchase and equipping of NP300 ambulance vehicle;
- Acquisition of two chemical dosing pumps for town water works to service the entire of Rusape, whose population is approximately 34 000 people;
- Fabrication and installation of Jackneedham new raw water pump trolley;
- Siting, drilling, installation and commissioning of three community bush pump boreholes to benefit 2 450 households; and
- Purchase of two utility vehicles for the water section.
Rusape Town Council water supply technician, Mr Brian Gwenure, indicated that the next phase will focus on Magamba Water Reculation, which is expected to service 82 properties.
The construction of Chirarwe Nyamazi Causeway is one of the 44 projects being implemented by Mutasa Rural District Council.
Upon completion, the project will ease movement of vehicles from Chirarwe area to Mutasa.
It is also a thoroughfare for travellers coming from Nyanga and Mutare.
Mukotsa Njera – a community member who is also involved in the construction work – emphasises that the intervention to construct the causeway had come timely as road access had greatly been affected.
Tsvingwe Clinic, which was non-functional for some time, is now open to the public after it was rehabilitated by council.
Owen Chimowa, the civil engineering technician for Mutasa Rural District Council (RDC), said the structure had been plastered, painted and electrified.
The clinic has been fenced and a toilet and waste disposal facilities had also been constructed.
The project also involves the construction of a waste water stand.
Through devolution, local authorities can now buy meaningful equipment for service delivery.
Mutasa chief executive officer George Bandure said the grant (from devolution) was impactful in terms of service delivery.
Council has also enhanced its ICT systems following the purchase of a server to enhance accounting systems.
What the future holds
Mutasa RDC’s vision is to upgrade infrastructure to meet quality standards.
Recreational facilities will be upgraded, while the appropriate infrastructure for income-generating projects will be provided.
Mutasa District Development Coordinator Mr Tendai Kapenzi said the district had the great potential for coffee production and some of their coffee – Nespresso coffee – is consumed as far as Switzerland.
The district is considering enhancing coffee production.
There was partners who intend to set up canning facilities.
Hydroelectric projects along Odzani River are also being mooted.
Osborne Dam remains a low-hanging fruit for the district and the DDC views it as a sleeping giant, which can be fully utilised for irrigation projects.
For Rusape Town Council, their thrust is focussed on upgrading the built environment and ensuring that residents have title and the requisite residential infrastructure facilities.
The Nyazura sewer system has been completed, while work on the Magamba extension water reticulation project is ongoing.
There are plans to purchase road equipment to improve roadworks.
Project selection
The projects are selected following submissions from councillors and adopted through council resolutions.
After a consultative process with stakeholders and residents, projects are presented at full council sessions and adopted upon assessment and prioritisation.
Resolutions are then made in line with council’s plan of action.
The above projects are just a snapshot of works on the ground.
However, devolution is a process and a lot of its components are still being developed.
Its success hinges on efforts being made to build capacity to achieve skills development in the areas of project and financial management.
With devolution also comes responsibilities and obligations to deliver.
The least that authorities who are entrusted with the mandate to implement this epoch-defining project can do is to implement it for the greater good.
Sikhanyisiwe Ncube is the principal communications and advocacy officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. Feedback: [email protected]
