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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
ACADEMICS in Masvingo have called on Government to expedite the implementation of devolution concept so that people can start benefiting from their resources.

Addressing stakeholders during a Research and Advocacy Unity (RAU) policy formulation workshop at a local hotel in Masvingo recently, Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) lecturer Dr Simba Gukurume commended Government for operationalising the constitution, especially on the aspect of devolution, but bemoaned the delay in implementing the initiative.

He said devolution was a constitutional provision enshrined in the supreme law of the country, produced in 2013, but was yet to be fully implemented.

“We are happy that the President has shown commitment towards the implementation of devolution, as enshrined in the constitution,” said Dr Gukurume.

“However, it is disturbing to note that, it is now six years since we produce our home grown Constitution in which the aspect of devolution is more pronounced and yet nothing tangible has been done on the ground.

“This (devolution) is an important idea we must all embrace as Zimbabweans to enhance development initiative from district up to provincial level without solely waiting on central Government.

“It brings equitable distribution of resources within the provinces and would devolve or decentralise power down to the provinces. There would be total autonomy on decision making over resources found in the provinces.”

He cited Kenya as a case study in Africa where devolution has effectively been implemented and already paying off in terms of resources control.

“In Africa, we have Kenya where devolution has been implemented and working. They have what are called counties and that represent provinces and they have autonomy over their resources.

“Each province has managed to construct its airport and they have dialysis machines in each provincial hospitals. Before devolution they had only two such machines across the whole country,” said Dr Gukurume.

In the United States of America (USA), he said, there was also a federal system where each federal state had its own Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and total autonomy.

Dr Shumba said devolution was not a new concept.

“It has been there but lacked constitutional recognition,” he said.

He said after independence, Government inherited a heavily centralised system which was decentralised in 1984 but it was predominantly administrative.

“There was a Prime Minister directive where the issues of local governance became key but in the devolution, local authorities should be key tiers,” he added.

Civic Society Organisations (CSO) also hailed the devolution concept, but underscored the need to demystify the “wrong” perception that it was a political programme between two political parties.

Mr Gilbert Sibanda, a civic society organisation activist, alleged that some citizens viewed devolution as the brain child of people from Matabeleland.

“Devolution is viewed as the brainchild of political parties and not shared among the generality of the Zimbabwe populace.

“It is also taken as coming from people from Matabeleland, who were complaining more about marginalisation. Unless this misconception is demystified, devolution will not succeed,” said Mr Sibanda.

The Government through the 2019 national budget statement allocated a total of $310 million towards devolution and has released $33 million for Masvingo.