Coltart criticises govt over devolution

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has criticised the government for failing to fully implement devolution of power as outlined in the national constitution, saying the concept remains theoretical rather than practical.

Speaking to city residents, Coltart said the current governance structure continues to be dominated by centralised control despite constitutional provisions for devolution. He argued that while the Constitution mandates a multi-tiered system - with authority distributed among provincial, metropolitan and local councils - the government has shown little commitment to real decentralisation.

"The devolution of power and governance in Zimbabwe is only theoretical, not practical as initially envisaged," Coltart said.

Under the Constitution, devolution is meant to promote democratic participation, equitable resource distribution, and improved service delivery by empowering local authorities to make decisions affecting their communities.

However, critics, including local government leaders and civic organisations, say progress has been minimal due to limited political will and the dominance of central government structures.

Coltart accused the ruling Zanu-PF government of maintaining a "commandist model" that has impoverished citizens and weakened local development. "Despite the constitutional provisions for a decentralised system, the reality is that the country continues to operate largely as a centralised unitary state, a failed Zanu-PF commandist model which has destroyed the country and badly impoverished its people," he said.

Observers say the continued delay in implementing genuine devolution undermines public trust and frustrates efforts to achieve balanced regional development.