The ZAPU Devolution of Power explained, Part 4 of 4

This is the last article of the series that have been running in the last four weeks. In the first instalment I explained how ZAPU devolution of power can deal with the current negative tribal perspectives in Zimbabwe. In the second article I explained the mechanics of ZAPU devolution including what to devolve, how much to devolve and the philosophy for devolution.  In the third article of the series Mr. Richard Gandari gave an account of the unlimited natural resources across the provinces many of which lay idle unexploited. This last instalment attempts to highlight key issues for effective and successful ZAPU devolved governance.

 I have received a deluge of emails in favour and some disparaging against the principle of devolution of power advocated by ZAPU, in the fullness of time I will share the sentiments in those emails and articulate the ZAPU position on the issues raised in order to dispel the myths.

 The ZAPU devolution of power is a statutory transfer of symmetrical status, authority, legislative and administrative powers to lower levels of governance within a democratic country of Zimbabwe. In ZAPU devolution, sovereign authority resides in parliament at the national assembly, but that sovereign is derived directly from the people and therefore in an essence sovereignty resides with the people, a concept which is only possible through devolution of power.

ZAPU's view is that there should be a genuine political commitment to devolution. A genuine devolution of power should be enshrined in the constitution and legal instruments made available for effective implementation of the concept. The Provincial legislatures will have adequate powers and authority for viable governance; they will work in tandem with the national legislatures and judicial system in the preservation of human rights and social order. This gives the police, judiciary, prosecutors, and investigators and commissioners the authority to investigate crimes, abuses of power, violations of rights, and charges of corruption.    

ZAPU's devolution of power model of governance is based on the principle of devomax. The principle of devomax acknowledges the principle of self-determination and the belief in people's capacities, a realisation that people are self-driven and that if enabling conditions are put in place; people will always thrive and be self-reliant without the ‘benevolence' from the centre.

Full powers are by law devolved to lower levels of political administration. There is the national assembly, provincial assemblies and district councils.  Provincial political administrative boundaries will be clearly defined and observed by law. ZAPU has five provincial legislative assemblies each one with a people elected government. The legislative provinces include Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland.

In ZAPU devolution, the funding of devolved provincial legislatures is mandatory, statutory and proportionate. The provinces will have a duty to raise their own funds within given parameters. This ensures that social and economic development is spread evenly to all political regions preventing marginalisation of other regions, something which other regions have complained about since independence.

The success of  ZAPU devolution of power model of governance  hinges  on establishing the needs, priorities and aspirations of communities and individuals; building capacity of the provinces;  promoting  community participation: enhancing and legitimizing the role of elected members; encouraging innovation; developing the enabling role of local authorities; improving service delivery; producing better 'joined-up' working ;and devolving budgets to provinces.

Local devolution implies that the needs, priorities and aspirations of local communities are identified and a set of actions agreed with the key organisations responsible for meeting local needs. Projects are best suited where needs and priorities are easily defined. Communities are aware of what resources are available in their communities. They may need help in technological know-how to transform those resources to meet their needs.  With experience, and increasing self-confidence, lessons can be transferred to more complex forms of community development projects. This model should have been adopted in 1980 and people should be well equipped by now, so no more time to waste, Zimbabwe has to do what is right and progressive.

 Local communities can apply a range of participation techniques. It is envisaged that participation may be used to stimulate inclusive local involvement in decision-making, implementation and capacity building. The experience of achievement by the local community may cultivate the interest for participation in successive projects. The scope, realistic outcomes and the time period for the exercise will be clarified from the onset, the responsibilities of the provincial authority, councilors and other stakeholders defined and communities reassured that their views will count. Considerable amount of commitment in terms of time, money and change in bureaucratic habits is required if communities are to become active participants. The network of intermediary bodies which assist local communities' needs strengthening and consideration should be given to creating a government-supported fund, to facilitate community engagement. The key lesson is that participation is not a one-off exercise and building community capacity requires resources and a sustained commitment, particularly to people like us Zimbabweans who were disempowered from the very beginning.

ZAPU Devolved approaches to community management may present opportunities and challenges for elected premiers or councilors. It allows them to be more involved  and in contact with local issues, but may be a source of conflict if their priorities, those of the community and local authority staff, assigned to help to deliver community priorities, do not match. Roles, responsibilities and declarations of interest of different constituents of the community are vital to provide clarity of goals. On the other this may encourage open and competitive participation as people become accustomed to possessing powers.

Under ZAPU devolution service delivery should be improved if account is taken of community views. Local authorities and other public agencies will need to develop new skills to work with local communities. Attention will also need to be given to resolving competing local interests and balancing local priorities with the need for an equitable distribution of resources and effective service delivery across a wider area of the community.

ZAPU Devolution will accelerate the process in which local authorities become 'enablers' rather than direct service providers, as authorities begin to support cross-cutting and capacity building measures, through strategic and local partnerships. This will require innovative ways of working, including networking skills and new approaches to accountability.

Political and institutional commitment to 'joined-up' working is essential if it is to succeed. The National assembly has a key role to play in devolving decision-making in its own structures and facilitating flexibility and pooled budgets at local level. The concept of devolution will encourage local authorities and national authorities to examine new approaches of financial resource allocation.

Funding may be provided to the devolved provinces from the government as a block grant. This means once the money is received by the devolved provincial legislature, it can be spent on any devolved responsibility as the provinces see fit.

The amounts of grants in the devolved budgets may be determined by the Barnett formula, which provides them with size of the population. The formula gives the devolved provinces a proportionate share of spending on ‘comparable' functions, given their populations compared to other provinces. Devolved provinces are granted powers to generate their own revenue say by imposing local taxes.

 A provincial legislature may impose taxes, levies and duties other than income tax, value-added tax, general sales tax, rates on property or customs duties. The power of a provincial legislature to impose taxes, levies, duties and surcharges may not be exercised in a way that materially and unreasonably prejudices national economic policies, economic activities across provincial boundaries, or the national mobility of goods, services, capital or labour. It must be regulated in terms of legislation enacted on a Financial and Fiscal considerations made by the national assembly.

Encouraging innovation is easiest when people understand and relate to the objectives and required outcomes. As complexity increases innovation all too often takes the form of process changes and outcomes for residents are replaced by more easily measurable outputs. But moves to more devolved governance are dependent upon innovations - 'doing things differently' - that deliver better, more accountable and transparent outcomes

ZAPU is the only political party in Zimbabwe with a people friendly and viable model of governance far better than the ZANU PF centralised, elitist and coercive model of governance. ZAPU model of devolution of power is even far much better than the MDC T model only described as bread and butter or big tent model.

Devolution of power is premised on the respect of human beings and nature. Devolution of power empowers and capacitates institutions and individuals. Devolution of power is the best form of democracy.

You can contact Themba on thembamthethwa05@yahoo.co.uk