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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Churches have called on people in Masvingo to embrace the concept of devolution and focus on economic empowerment to help achieve President Mnangagwa’s vision of a middle-income economy by 2030.

Addressing church representatives and civic organisations at the Roman Catholic Church in Masvingo last week, Zimbabwe Christian Alliance director Reverend Useni Sibanda hailed President Mnangagwa for fully supporting devolution.

“The Constitution talks about devolution, but a number of people are not aware of what it is. Hence we are taking an initiative as the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance to explain the concept to them,” said Rev Sibanda.

He said some people misconstrued devolution for secession.

“Devolution is different from secession where the country will be divided and the provinces have their own leadership,” he said.

“In this arrangement, communities will have a voice on how their resources are shared.

“It is also an answer to bureaucracy or red tape as decisions would be decentralised and no one waits for central Government to make a decision as is the case at the moment.”

Rev Sibanda cited South Africa as a case study, saying there was massive socio-economic development because each province was using its resources for its benefit.