Devolution of Power is non negotiable - Welshman Ncube

During the COPAC outreach meetings which composed of all the three political parties in the inclusive government and the civil society, the people of Zimbabwe in all the provinces spoke clearly that they want devolution of power. It is now disturbing to hear that Zanu PF wants to refer the issue to the negotiators. The MDC will not allow any moves that are aimed at subverting the desire of the people as spoken during the outreach and captured by the reports of the processes.

Addressing two thousand MDC supporters in Ntepe, Gwanda, the MDC President Welshman Ncube told the supporters that MDC is disturbed that COPAC is referring devolution of power to the negotiators when the people spoke clearly that they want power to be spread to the lower structures of the government and the control of their resources.

"You spoke clearly that you want devolution of power, it is captured in the Copac reports that you want power to the 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 would not be allowed to get away with this, we won't allow that. You know that during the war of liberation, when we said "power to the people", we meant this, we meant devolution. I can tell you that only this MDC which is listens to you when you speak, will defend your views as we always do" he said amid a thunderous applause.

Devolution of power is one of the issues that have been referred to the negotiators in the constitution making process, where Zanu (Pf) is on record saying they won't allow devolution of power despite the overwhelming response from the ten provinces.

The President went on to explain that the party wants elections in a free and fair environment where the result will not be contested. He went on to say that SADC will only support a situation where the elections are held in conformity with the conditions that are set under the Global Political Agreement.

"The MDC wants elections; a day with Mugabe in power is a day too long. For that reason we want a free and fair election under those conditions that all parties signed to. We are confident that on such environment Mugabe will be condemned to history and MDC will romp to victory" he said

Speaking at the same event the MDC Secretary General said that the government's reluctance to release the DIMAF fund for the resuscitation of the companies in Bulawayo was evidence of the broader plot to fight the people of Matabeleland. He said that after a detailed concern raised by the MDC President at cabinet meeting and the completion of the subsequent processes the Cabinet agreed last year to release the fund, but to date nothing has materialized as some key government officials are not concerned with the plight of the people.

'we have seen in cabinet, that the plight of the people of Matabeleland is not a priority to some key people especially the principals, President Ncube has put a good fight for this fund of distressed companies unfortunately tribalism also reigns in the cabinet, so many funds for other projects that do not benefit you have been released but when it comes to your issue its treated as any other business. I can tell that now you need to elect your children, who don't need to read your problems but those that know and have been through them, President Ncube that son to lead,' she said.

The rally was in Gwanda Central constituency which is represented by Patrick Dube from the MDC.