Churches in favour of devolution

CHURCHES in Manicaland have welcomed Government’s devolution programme saying it comprehensively decentralised and transferred power and authority - including financial, investment and economic responsibilities - to the country’s 10 provinces.

This came out during a stakeholder capacity building workshop held by Christian Alliance in Mutare last Wednesday to educate residents on devolution and provincial councils’ operations while castigating corrupt activities at the same time.

Treasurer of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance Mr Jonah Gokova told The Herald that they had found it befitting to educate residents on devolution so that they would be able to make informed decisions when engaging Government.

“We are conducting this workshop to educate residents of Manicaland on devolution and how the local authorities - in this case Mutare City Council would come up with a devolution agenda for the province as a whole.

“Our goal is capacitate them on how to engage Government over grievances and perspectives on issues concerning development in the Manicaland province,” he said.

Mr Gokova said the programme would help citizens initiate ways of participating in the devolution programme that accommodated citizens’ contribution in local government matters.

“Defining devolution is quite crucial for the nation and the provinces as well as giving them advice on how they can contribute towards development.

“We intend to educate citizens on ways they can work with local authorities towards the development of the province and ultimately national development,” he added.

He added that the objective was to improve participation of citizens in local authorities as they embraced the devolution programme introduced by Government.

“Ultimately, our objective is to improve citizen participation in social service delivery, education and health systems, modernising of infrastructure and preservation of the environment and addressing concerns of many Zimbabweans that prompted President Emmerson Mnangagwa to push the idea of devolution,” he said.