Zanu-PF agrees to devolution

Zanu-PF and the two MDC parties have finally reached an agreement which will see devolution of power form part of the new constitution for Zimbabwe.

Under the deal agreed by the parties, the country's 10 provinces will each have a provincial assembly made up of Members of Parliament and Senators from that area, representatives of local authorities and 10 individuals elected by proportional representation as well as a provincial governor.

The provincial assembly will nominate two possible candidates for governorship which they will forward to the President who will choose from the two, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

Zanu-PF had vowed not to support any constitution with devolution of power, with officials claiming it would encourage secession advocates in Matabeleland to push for a withdrawal from Zimbabwe.

But the MDC parties - who have placed devolution at the heart of their policies - said Zanu-PF was rejecting people's views after the issue registered high during an outreach programme led by a parliamentary committee to collect the people's views.

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