Zanu-PF, MDCs decentralisation deal sparks anger

Parties in the inclusive government have reached a compromise on devolution of power in the new constitution, but the deal has come under fire from civil society groups in Matabeleland. Civic society group castigated the so called devolution and labelled it decentralisation instead.

Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations have been haggling over provisions for the governance system that seeks to do away with the centralised administration currently in place in Zimbabwe.

MDC national director for policy and research co-ordination Qhubani Moyo confirmed the development yesterday. However, Dumisani Mpofu, the director of Matabeleland-based civil society group Masakhaneni Trust, said the agreement was not acceptable.

"Our major concern is that the kind of devolution that they have agreed on is not devolution at all, but decentralisation," he said.

"If you say the same MP who legislated at national level legislates again at provincial level, then the provincial level would have been subjected to national manipulation.

"Their arrangement that the winning party proposes two candidates for the post of the governor is just as good as saying the President appoints the governor.

Their minds are still around a one-party system."

Matabeleland Constitutional Reform Agenda director Effie Ncube said the agreement by the parties was "a victory for darkness".

"It's a victory for darkness, a victory for retrogressive forces, those that are opposed to equality and democracy," he said.