HOW MDC-T missed on devolution in Bulawayo

Chapter 14 Section 272 of the Constitution clearly puts it that the political party with the highest number of National Assembly seats in the province concerned is the one that should nominate the persons to serve as Chairpersons of the provincial assembly.

According to the 2013 general elections, the MDC-T had the highest number of National Assembly seats in Bulawayo province.

It was clear from the onset that ZANU PF will not do any meaningful efforts to ensure the operationalization of devolution, due to the statements of the party's leaders on devolution before the referendum.

For instance, the ZANU PF President is qouted by NewZimbabwe being on record of having said, on ZBC of March 5, 2012, "We don't want to divide the country into small pieces because it will cause disunity among our people." Mr Ignatious Chombo is qouted (by New Zimbabwe) as having said "Devolution will have divisive effects on the socio-political disposition of our people and therefore should not be included in our new constitution" on the Chronicle of 7 March 2012. On the other hand, Mr Jonathan Moyo is qouted as having said "The time has come to make it very clear that Zanu PF will not support or be part of any draft constitution that seeks federalism in Zimbabwe under any guise, let alone the cover of devolution." (Sunday Mail of 4 March 2012).

The hopes of many devolution minded citizens was therefore on two issues, one that maybe the ZANU PF leadership will repent of their devolution stand, and secondly, on the MDC-T Bulawayo victory. There was hope that the MDC-T legislators will forcefully push ZANU PF to eventually reform its stance on devolution. However, since 2013, the MDC-T has and continues to miss key opportunities to make a serious, radical and unwavering stand on devolution of power.

What could the MDC-T have done?

FIRSTLY, the MDC-T could have used their Bulawayo province majority to constitute themselves into a provincial council, elect a provincial council chair and be sitting as a council. True, that council will have operated outside an enabling act and was not going to be recognized by the government, but it was going to be one of the radical and daring stands by that party to show their stand on devolution of power.

SECONDLY, there are many bills that have seen their way into parliament since 2013, MDC-T and MDC could have capitalized on their numbers by resorting to radical stances such as walking out of every bill discussion demanding the devolution bill.

THIRDLY, in Bulawayo where they enjoyed an overwhelming majority, they could have mobilized their members to frustrate every parliamentary public hearing by demanding devolution of power.

How MDC-T has missed and continues to miss these opportunities boggles the mind. It makes us wonder if its a result of bankruptcy of ideas, if its the insolvency of the passion for devolution or what, considering that on VOA Studio 7 of August 2, 2010, MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai was qouted saying "Devolution must now become a reality. We cannot have a situation where some people feel that the centre is taking everything."

Mayibuye i - Devolution!

(.....Devolution Now Campaign) Campaigners for Devolution Email: devolutioncampaign@gmail.com