Govt takeover of local clinics an attack on devolution

THE plans by central government to take over local clinics under the guise of having standardised service delivery as envisaged by the National Development Strategy 1 is a direct attack on the principle of devolution as provided by the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

We warn that the takeover not only has implications on accountability, but is a catalyst for corruption, strips local authorities of power and property to manage their own affairs, which will have serious implications on primary healthcare provision.

We anticipated that government would comply with its devolution and decentralization policy of 2020, which assigns government to the role of setting policy and standard frameworks, providing oversight to ensure the maintenance of standards and adherence, and provide capacity building to local authorities with devolved State powers to deliver quality services to the citizens.

We expect government to religiously disburse health grants to local authorities timeously for provision of primary health care.

It is disturbing that while the central government acknowledges there are unfunded mandates which are straining local authorities, it is blaming municipalities on this capacity gap.

Instead of taking over clinics, the government in the 2022 budget must provide adequate and sufficient financial resources and improve the working conditions of its healthcare personnel.

The recent assertions by Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga that government would soon be taking over local clinics came at a time when the central government has taken over roads rehabilitation and refuse collection, which are functions of local authorities.

The presence of the central government in the functions of local authorities is worrying and is a reversal of the gains of decentralisation made by the country since independence.

Section 276 of the Constitution gives local authorities the right of self-governance and to manage the local affairs of the people within the area for which it has been established, and has all the powers necessary for it to do so.

The Combined Harare Residents Association calls on government to conduct broader consultations on the matter so that citizens are involved in decision-making processes.

Combined Harare Residents

Association