(Last Updated on September 16, 2020 by Editor)
HARARE – Community Water Alliance and Hon. Allan Markham have obtained a court order compelling the government to gazette bill(s) giving effect to Act of Parliament governing the devolution of power as contemplated in Chapter 14 of the constitution.
The applicants are being represented by Tendai Biti of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). They were arguing that government has breached section 324 of the constitution by failing to diligently perform it’s constitutional obligations.
Justice Mushore granted this court order after summoning Attorney General, Advocate Prince Machaya to appear in court over the reluctance of government to enact laws to help facilitate the actualisation of devolution.
The Zanu-PF led government has continued to stall the devolution process despite promising to do so years ago. It was actually one of the first promises that the current government made when it assumed power in 2017.
Devolution if implemented will ensure decisions on development are made closer to the local people as provincial and local governments will be given more freedom and flexibility to work effectively to improve the service delivery.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has himself declared that his government will implement devolution but there has been a growing sense that the government is reluctant to fully implement this process.