Assessing Devolution Gaps in Promoting Citizen Participation and Accountability in Local Government in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The devolution of power as a new governance model in Zimbabwe is premised on the fact that devolution is democratic, it opens avenues for grassroot participation, transparent and more importantly it enables local political representative accountability. Chapter 14, section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013 provides for a devolution of government powers and responsibilities to provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities in an effort to ensure good governance, citizen participation and democracy. The Constitution organizes government at three levels namely, national, provincial and local. However, contrary to the provisions of section 264 of the Constitution the government has not given powers of local governance to the people to enhance their participation in making decisions affecting them and ensure that local government officials are accountable to the citizens. The study adopted extant qualitative literature to gather information. The paper 
assessed devolution gaps in promoting citizen participation and accountability in local government in Zimbabwe. It examined decades of decentralisation adjustments in Zimbabwe since independence to post 2013 era when the Constitution of Zimbabwe was enacted in order 
to understand challenges affecting decentralisation and devolution and their effect on citizen participation and accountability. Research findings indicated that a centralised system of governance existed since independence and despite efforts made to decentralise over the years, 
the government had instead re-centralised and this had affected citizen participation and accountability in local governance.