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(NEWZIMBABWE) Devolution of power: What they said

COMMENT - I am not in favour of devolution to the provinces, because it simply replaces national elites with local elites. I am in favour of devolution to local government, because it brings government decisions closer to the people and increases democracy. What I would like to see, throughout the world, is that the nations resources are mined nationally, but redistributed to all local governments as local government budgets, so that local governments can perform local government functions - policing, healthcare, education, utilities and administration.

Devolution of power: What they said
Divergent views ... Tsvangirai, Nkomo and Mugabe weigh in on debate
28/03/2012 00:00:00
by Ntungamili Nkomo

Devolution of power remains one of the main issues slowing the process of writing a new constitution as Zanu PF and MDC politicians wrangle over its inclusion in the new charter.

The concept has gained traction in the Zimbabwean political narrative and could be a game changer in the referendum as some civic groups have vowed to reject the draft if it does not embrace devolving power. This is what some of Zimbabwe's policy makers, political parties and NGOs have said over the issue of devolution:

President Robert Mugabe – ZBC, March 5, 2012

“We don’t want to divide the country into small pieces because it will cause disunity among our people. Those things are done in big countries, not a small country like ours.

“We once had this, under the Federation which included Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi). Some are talking about separating Matabeleland region to become a country; that is impossible we don’t want that.” Local Government Minister Ignatias Chombo – Chronicle, March 7, 2012

“Devolution in the midst of high levels of unemployment, polarisation and poverty may attract external infiltration by external forces that are opposed to the policies that benefit Zimbabweans such as indigenisation and economic empowerment and the land reform programme.

“It limits central government's oversight and increases inter-regional conflict, particularly in the re-allocation of resources between regions precipitating demands in resource rich regions for separation. Devolution will have divisive effects on the socio-political disposition of our people and therefore should not be included in our new constitution.” Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan Moyo – Sunday Mail, March 4, 2012

“This debate is senseless because devolution, which is a well-recognised public administration principle and concept of decentralisation, has been falsely morphed into a constitutional issue carrying all the baggage of federalism which has become a dirty word in the Zimbab­wean constitutional debate.

“The time has come to make it very clear that Zanu PF will not support or be part of any draft constitution that seeks federalism in Zimbabwe under any guise, let alone the cover of devolution. Federalism is not devolution and devolution is not federalism.

“Zanu PF will accept devolution, as it has always done, not as a constitutional principle (because it is not) but as the essence of decentralisation in public administration in accordance with recognised international best practice in the field of public administration.

“What this means is that the misrepre­sentation of devolution as a constitutional issue in pursuit of federalism must stop and this means devolution, which is a good public administration thing that can find expression in acts of Parliament and in management applications of the day, has no place whatsoever in any serious or respectable democratic constitution.”
MDC president Welshman Ncube – mdczim.net, March 25, 2012

“You (the masses) spoke clearly that you want devolution of power; it is captured in the COPAC reports that you want power to be spread to the lower structures. Now, Zanu PF, who are well known for their record of violating the will of the people, are saying, they don’t want devolution of power.

“No, no, no! Mugabe and his Zanu PF will not be allowed to get away with this. We won’t allow that. During the war of liberation, when we said ‘power to the people,’ we meant this, we meant devolution. I can tell you that the MDC will defend your views as we always do.”
MDC organising secretary Qhubani Moyo – Zimbabwe Independent, March 22, 2012

“It is quite clear the current system of a highly-centralised state as we have in Zimbabwe has promoted autocracy, inefficiency, corruption and exclusion of people from full participation in how they are governed. Devolution can certainly help to address some of these problems.

“So claims by Mugabe and Chombo that devolution divides people are not just misleading but also false. There are many examples of devolved states in Africa and elsewhere in the world which are working well. In fact, devolution, instead of dividing people, promotes equitable distribution of resources and above all national cohesion.”
NCA Chairman Lovemore Madhuku - VOA, March 12, 2012

“Devolution is not a regional issue. Devolution is a national issue; I think every Zimbabwean would want powers to devolve to local communities, to local authorities, to provinces, to regions and so on…

“Our position is very clear that there must be devolution in a people driven constitution and that is not a Matabeleland issue, it’s an issue for the whole country.

“I know that good things in a constitution like devolution only come out of a good process. The current process (of writing a constitution) is not a good one. So I don’t have to wait for the last Stakeholders conference or the draft to know that under the current process, Zanu PF will not accept devolution, they will shoot it down. The MDC will be forced to accept it.
“I would have wanted a situation where we can have an open process and then those good things like devolution come in."

Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga – New Zimbabwe, June 8, 2009

“Devolution is an issue which is dear to the MDC’s philosophy and it’s going to be addressed.”

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, VOA Studio 7, August 3, 2010

“Devolution does not mean secession. It does not mean separation. It is not about tribalism. It is about sharing the national cake equally.
“Devolution must now become a reality. We cannot have a situation where some people feel that the centre is taking everything.

“In my province, in my home district of Buhera, people say they are marginalised and the same in Tsholotsho, but the problems may be different.”
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara – New Zimbabwe, July 26, 2010

“Devolution is global best practice… For the last 30 years, development in Zimbabwe has been asymmetric. You had a crisis in Matabeleland between 1981 and 1986 where guns replaced development. You don’t need to be clever to know that where there is war, there cannot be development.

“The central idea in devolution is to ensure that if there are diamonds in Marange, their processing should be done in Marange and not Harare for instance. If there is coal in Hwange, let locals benefit by way of jobs and the Colliery should be able to support local development by way of funding clinics and schools.”
British Social Scientist, Diana Conyers – The Zimbabwean, August 8, 2010

“It does not always have a positive impact on development - either for individual regions or for the country as a whole. Its impact on economic and social development is not guaranteed. It depends on a number of factors.

“For example, if local governments are given the power to utilise the revenue from their own resources and there are major variations in resources from one region to another, devolution is likely to benefit the rich regions but not the poor, and thus to increase regional inequalities.

“Similarly, if regional or local governments lack the technical and management skills and/or integrity necessary to exercise their powers responsibly, devolution may have a negative impact on development.

“This does not mean that politicians should not advocate devolution. Experience in Zimbabwe and elsewhere has shown that, if properly designed and supported, it can bring major developmental benefits. However, they should be aware of the conditions needed to make it a success and avoid raising false expectations.
Economist Eric Bloch – The Independent, March 15, 2012

“Zimbabwe’s next door neighbour, South Africa, has substantially effected devolution, with positive economic and other benefits, and without it in any manner being nationally divisive.

“The head offices of the governmental ministries are in Pretoria, but parliament is conducted in Cape Town. The majority of the ministries operate offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Bloemfontein, the personnel therein having fairly extensive determinative powers within the framework of prescribed national policies.

“In like manner, most of the banks, insurance companies and pension funds have their offices and top management in Johannesburg, but have substantive offices in other centers, with the branch managers having relatively substantial authority. If devolution works in South Africa, and in many other countries, it should surely similarly work in Zimbabwe.”
MDC-T Bulawayo chairman Gorden Moyo – Zimbabwe Independent, March 16, 2012

“People confuse devolution with federalism. What President Mugabe, by the nature of his remarks, was rejecting was federalism, not devolution. There is a world of a difference between the two.

“The people of Mutare, Masvingo, Midlands and some parts of Mashonaland have also called for devolution. It’s not only the people of Matabeleland who want devolution.

“Firstly, we need governors elected by the people, and not appointed, because if they are appointed they would only be accountable to whoever appointed them.

“Then we need provincial budgets from national government implemented by the governor; provincial assemblies with your MPs sitting in the provinces; a jurisdiction whereby you identify sectors to be administered by provinces and make provinces autonomous, but linked to national government.

“So devolution is a system within a unitary system of government, not federalism. You still have national government running the country, including resource mobilisation for all provinces and budgeting.

“Provinces can be given latitude to tax just like local authorities to have extra resources over and above what comes from central government, but central government has the responsibility to equalise if there are problems in other provinces. If there are resources or economic activities in a particular province, those economic activities must first benefit people within that province in terms of employment.”
Former Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu – New Zimbabwe, June 5, 2009

“The Matabeleland region is the richest in terms of resources but it is home to the poorest people. We need a departure from a system that perpetuates this to one that ensures the equitable distribution of resources.

“We have been complaining as Matabeleland of lack of resources. Even while in government, some of us were complaining about this. Roads have not been completed and we are lagging behind other areas in terms of development.

“Matabeleland South has gold and cattle while Matabeleland North is rich in minerals, has the Hwange National Park and the country’s premier resort, the Victoria Falls, but proceeds from these economic ventures are not necessarily developing the province.

“In Lupane, you find children in classrooms without benches when they are in the middle of a forest with plenty of timber. Let us have an informed debate on it, and with development at the centre.”
Historian Phathisa Nyathi – New Zimbabwe, June 5, 2009

“The concept of devolution of power is very simple. We need to differentiate it from de-congestion. When we talk about de-congestion, we are talking about assigning certain functions of central government to a region, which is an aspect of decentralisation.

“What we have in Zimbabwe are regional offices of a central government with no legislative powers. Our Provincial Governors have no legislative powers. They might have powers but they are not legislative. That is the missing tier.

“At the lowest level there is representation through the rural district councils in the case of rural areas, and urban councils in the case of towns and cities, which are elected bodies and to an extent have legislative powers, although defined, in that these councils can make by-laws and also collect revenue and taxes but the same thing does not exist at provincial level.

“So, devolving power would fill that void in the case of Zimbabwe. We are talking of a situation where a province has its own parliament with an assembly of elected representatives including a prime minister in the same manner as South Africa for instance.

“Devolution will give the various regions a knife with which to cut the national cake. Essentially, the system allows for local autonomy. Anybody who opposes devolution is selfish. What do you lose by devolving legislative power?”
Former ZAPU leader Paul Siwela – New Zimbabwe, June 9, 2009

“The term devolution sounds erudite but at the end of the day, the political architecture to achieve this is federalism.

“The concept is based on the fact that much power should rest with the constituent members of that federation than in a centralised government. In other words, the province or region has its own parliament, its own judiciary and an elected leader as opposed to the present set-up where Provincial Governors are appointed.

“In terms of taxation, you might have a system where the region collects taxes for its own use and also revenue for the federal government. In that way, locals are able to benefit from local resources.

“The main issue is power in its real sense. The Provincial Governors have no Cabinet, no constitution, no budget for the development of the province — no power in other words.”
Water Resources Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo – New Zimbabwe, May 27, 2009

“In Matabeleland, people cry that we are marginalised. The time is now to talk about regional governments. In the national budget there should be a budget for Matabeleland, Mashonaland and so on. Isn't that fair?

“As the national Minister of Water Resources and Development, I should be working with a regional minister of the same portfolio. An example is not far away, it’s in South Africa. They have a prime minister, ministers and regional parliaments.

"This is our stance; we want each region to have its own parliament. We want the regions to rule themselves according to their culture. We want our grievances to be addressed to Bulawayo as the regional capital of Matabeleland than travel to Harare.”

(Nkomo proposed that Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces could be collapsed into Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Manicaland, Masvingo and the Midlands. Each region would be in charge of budget allocations, management of resources and the local economy)
Vice President John Nkomo – Herald, June 22, 2011

"When it comes to devolution of power, I don't know what some people think really but some of these things come from idle minds. They never look at the implications of what they say.

"What is devolution? No one can give you an answer. What we must always remember as a nation is that even our ancestors set up a system of nation-building which entailed bringing together different people and the message is ‘wakha isizwe ngabantu (you build a nation from people) not by dividing them. Even King of the Ndebele nation Lobengula did the same. There can only be one state here.

“What I think would be ideal is decentralisation. With decentralisation, people do not have to go far to Harare each time to get things like birth certificates and other simple things which are essential.

"Government departments and various administrative structures should be all over the country so that people access them and feel that they are part of governance."
Finance Minister Tendai Biti – 2012 National Budget, November 2011

“The sense of alienation and despondency remains high. There is a clear anti-Harare sentiment out there. The feeling is that everything happens in Harare and that to be a true and participating citizen of Zimbabwe one must be domiciled in Harare. Everything is in Harare and Harare is everything.

“Devolution of power empowers citizens, even those on the periphery, to be interested in the issues of government and governance. Currently, it is as if one has to come all the way to Harare to talk to the government because there is no government in the provinces.

“Government offices manned by ‘outsider’ civil servants and an unelected and usually unpopular provincial governor are not the government.”
ZAPU spokesman Methuseli Moyo – NewsDay, March 24, 2011

“Under devolution, national government allocates resources proportionally to regions for development programmes, which the regional authorities prioritise themselves. National projects remain under the control and implementation of the central government in all areas.

“It is important to point out that devolution will benefit everyone, and not only Matabeleland as some people think. The reason why calls for devolution are stronger in Matabeleland is because people there have been marginalised and undermined by Zanu PF for 30 years.
“Devolution is not secession. The difference between the two is like night and day.

“Devolution is what is being practiced in South Africa and the United States for instance, but there is still one country, one president, one flag, one national anthem, one army, one police force, one national intelligence organisation, one prison service, one reserve bank, one currency, and one national revenue service, among other things.

“Zimbabwe has to move faster towards devolution of power so as to resolve some of the problems that make some people feel that maybe secession is the answer.”
Legislation Watchdog Veritas - News Alert, August 19, 2010

Advantages of Devolution or Provincialisation

The advantages of devolving power may be summarized as follows:

1. Strong local governments should lead to improved governance and economic development, at least in theory. This is because:

# Local politicians are closer to the people they serve, and are likely to be more responsive to their wishes.

# This greater responsiveness gives people a greater say in the aspects of government that closely affect them, such as the provision of water, electricity, education and health care.
# Improved delivery of essential services leads to greater productivity.

2. Devolution should lead to a more equitable distribution of national resources between the provinces.

3. The decentralisation of power creates separate power-bases within the State and dilutes the control that can be exercised from the centre. Paradoxically, this may make the State more resilient and reduce the likelihood of coups d'état, because seizing power from the central government does not necessarily bring control over the provinces.

In the last days of the USSR, for example, a coup failed when the coup plotters, having gained control of the central government, found they could not control the semi-autonomous republics that made up the State. On the other hand, it must be remembered that Nigeria, which is a federal State, has had more than its fair share of coups.

4. More definitely decentralisation of power makes it less likely that a single political party can take control of all the power centers of the state and substitute itself for legitimate government.

5. Provincial and local governments are training-grounds for politicians, giving them valuable managerial skills which can be employed at national level for the benefit of the country as a whole.

Too much should not be made of these advantages. Devolution does not necessarily lead to good governance, for example. Experience in this country has shown that local politicians and officials can be just as corrupt and incompetent as national ones, and just as difficult to get rid of.

In order to improve the quality of government, therefore, devolution must be accompanied by measures to increase transparency and accountability - to strengthen democracy, in fact.
Disadvantages of Devolution

Provincialisation has its drawbacks:

1. For a country with a relatively small population and a small tax base having an additional tier of government could be unsustainable.
2. It could create another cadre of office bearers getting hefty salaries and perks without giving value for money.

3. It can encourage regionalism or tribalism. Advancing one's own province or even tribe may be acceptable in a provincial politician, but it is a very serious defect at the national level.

4. It may slow down the processes of government if provincial authorities have to be consulted before decisions are taken at the centre.

5. Similarly, decisions of the central government may be rendered ineffective if their implementation is left to provincial authorities.

6. If too much power is devolved to the regions or provinces, the central government may not be left with enough power to hold the country together.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, DEVOLUTION, MDC, PROVINCES, ZANU-PF

posted by MrK @ 9:23 AM