When the Second Republic came into power in 2017, President Mnangagwa did not waste time in spelling out his vision. He cranked up the devolution agenda and about 5 years later he has transformed the lives of millions of people in previously marginalised areas. Provincial and local authorities across the country are excited because, through devolution, they have been empowered to make decisions and fund projects that directly affect the people. However, as the devolution agenda continues to gather momentum, there are a few teething problems that need to be addressed.
In reports below, local authorities in the country’s 10 provinces outline how devolution has transformed the lives of millions and how it has empowered them to become more effective and efficient in serving the people. They also highlight some of the challenges they are facing. These comprehensive reports come straight from the “foot soldiers” implementing devolution on the ground and so when they speak, we had better listen . . .
Manicaland Province
The Zimbabwe National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) was launched in November 2020 with the aim of propelling the country towards a prosperous and empowered Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.
One of the 14 national priority areas of the strategy is devolution and decentralisation, which seeks to empower local communities to promote inclusive socio-economic development across the country.
Section 301 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the establishment of a system of devolution of governmental powers and responsibilities to provincial and metropolitan councils. The financial provisions for devolution state that “not less than 5% of the national revenues raised in any financial year must be allocated to the provinces and local authorities as their share in that year”. This means that a portion of the national revenue collected by the central government must be set aside and distributed to the provincial and metropolitan councils for their use in promoting development within their respective regions.
Devolution is, therefore, improving the participation of local communities in development and supplementing local resources for local authorities to implement projects.
In 2021 and 2022, Manicaland Province targeted to receive 5% of the total revenues for funding various projects such as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, health, roads, electricity and social amenities.
In 2021 almost 5% was disbursed, while in 2021 only 2.5% of the allocation was received, resulting in significant slackening of progress on the implementation of projects. Furthermore, the little availed funds were disbursed in late December of the budget year.
Total to date: ZWL$1,202,660,347.03. That is ZWL$1.2 billion was disbursed. Devolution funds have been disbursed for projects covering road construction, water and sanitation, health, education, and social amenities, e.g. market stalls, and capacity building of local authorities, e.g. service vehicles, digitisation.
The most notable projects included the purchase of ambulances, road equipment (e.g. Mutare RDC grader), construction of amenities, e.g. market stalls at Nyanga Bus Terminus, Hotsprings Clinic in Chimanimani. The funds are not enough because disbursements are below 50% of the allocated amounts.
Utilisation of the funds
In both 2021 and 2022, the target for percentage utilisation of disbursed funds per quarter disaggregated by local tiers of government was 100%. The actual percentage use of disbursed funds during the same period was 100%, indicating that all funds disbursed were used (no variances), though they were insufficient to meet obligations. In addition, the disbursed funds fell short of the projected allocation.
The target for percentage completion of projects per quarter funded from Inter-governmental Fiscal Transfers (IGFTs) disaggregated by sector and local tiers of government was 80% of the ongoing and new devolution projects in 2022. The actual percentage completion of projects was 34%, resulting in a negative variance of 46%. The negative variance was influenced by the prevalence of the Covid-19 pandemic, and inadequate and late disbursement of funds which resulted in slower progress in project implementation.
Below is a snapshot of some of the implemented projects:
- Refurbishment of Vhiriri Primary School – Buhera District
Amount Allocated: ZWL$200,000.00; Actual Cost: ZWL$4,608,077.80; Completion Level: 95%; Number of Beneficiaries: 160
- Hotsprings Clinic – Chimanimani District
Status: Complete; Number of beneficiaries: 20,000; Cost: ZWL$1,452,688.11
- Magamba Extension Water Reticulation
Status: Work-in-Progress; Beneficiaries: 1,182 properties; Project Cost: ZWL$5,572,937.88
- Nyamhuka 1 Flea Market Stalls – Nyanga Bus Terminus
Status: Completed; Amount Allocated: ZWL$341,000.00; Actual Cost: ZWL$576,604.81; Beneficiaries: Wards 29 & 31
- Solarised Borehole – Ward 1, Chipinge Urban
Status: 2 sets of solar panels funded by UNICEF and devolution funds were established to power Borehole 17’s 7.5-horsepowewr submersible pump. A 900-metre parallel line to Ward 1 was established from Borehole 17 to Ward 1. From the tank, water is equitably distributed to residents in Ward 1. There are about 1,100 residents in Gaza E.
Masvingo Province
The implementation of devolution has brought the much-needed accelerated development to districts in Masvingo Province. Before the coming into office of the Second Republic, there were glaring gaps in infrastructure provision in the districts.
Social services provision has been greatly enhanced by the devolution agenda. The lives of people in the rural areas have changed for the better as no one and no place is being left behind in terms of development.
Devolution funds have greatly reduced the tax burden on ratepayers as councils now have guaranteed funds for infrastructure and service provision. The availability of funds has made possible the provision of social safety nets to the poor and marginalised. Devolution has created opportunities for community involvement and engagement in making decisions that affect their lives.
With the continued funding of this agenda, as Masvingo Province, we foresee councils improving tremendously in terms of infrastructure and service delivery. The attainment of Vision 2030 is certain.
Masvingo Province started benefiting from devolution in 2019. Over the last 5 years, Masvingo local authorities were allocated a total of ZWL$2,104,157,300.00, broken down as follows:
- Bikita – ZWL$254,347,000.00
- Chivi – ZWL$218,578,300.00
- Chiredzi RDC – ZWL$267,198,173.54
- Chiredzi Town – ZWL$132,237,000.00
- Gutu – ZWL$212,534,000.00
- Masvingo RDC – ZWL$213,665,000.00
- Masvingo City – ZWL$307,217,707.00
- Mwenezi – ZWL$205,000,000.00
- Zaka ZWL$423,714,436.00
- Total = ZWL$2,234,491,616.54
The funds initially did not come in time due to liquidity challenges, but currently allocations are being disbursed regularly to meet councils’ budgetary needs.
Devolution funds are disbursed directly to local authorities. These funds were used in the construction of clinics as well as schools. Since its inception, a total of 47 clinics have been targeted for implementation. Targeted works were completed at most of the clinics, notably:
- Bikita RDC – Odzi Clinic, Bubi Clinic, Mupamaonde Clinic, Chibvure Clinic, Tafara Clinic, Chivaka Clinic and Uteke Clinic
- Chivi RDC – Bwanya Clinic
- Chiredzi RDC – Chikwirire Clinic, Chimbedziwa Clinic, Machindu Clinic, Rusununguko Clinic, Turkey Heart Clinic and Gwaseche Clinic.
- Gutu RDC – Chimedza Clinic, Nerupiri Mothers’ Waiting Shelter, Mushayavanhu Clinic, Ndawi Clinic, Muchekayaora Clinic, Makumbe Clinic, Makwirivindi Clinic, Zoma Clinic, Nyamandi Clinic, Muchekayaora Clinic.
- Masvingo RDC – Gundura Clinic, Bere Clinic, Zvehuru Clinic, Mushandike Clinic, Reshuro Clinic, Zishumbe Clinic, Musingarabwi Clinic, Murinye Clinic, Chatikobo Clinic, Mavizhu Clinic, Nyamande Clinic, Chisase Clinic.
- Mwenezi RDC – Petronella Clinic, Bubye River Ranch Clinic, Mlelezi Clinic
- Zaka RDC – Chinyazvivi Clinic, Benzi Clinic, Charuka Clinic, Chinyabako Mothers’ Shelter, Four Miles, Tovane Clinic.
- Masvingo City – Runyararo West Clinic
- Chiredzi Town – Nil
The infrastructure provided included waiting mothers’ shelter, main clinic blocks, staff houses and reticulated water and sewerage services including equipping and furnishing of the clinics.
In the education sector, a total of 50 schools benefited with either a classroom block, teachers’ houses, administration block, ablution block or water reticulation system.
Interventions were also made in provision of sewage disposal in Chiredzi Town and Masvingo City. Boreholes were drilled in Bikita, Masvingo, Chivi, Chiredzi, Mwenezi and Gutu District.
These projects were initiated by the communities themselves who were at the forefront of implementing them using their own funds as well as making use of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Councils only came in to support the already set-up projects with some having gone beyond 50% implementation, indicating the critical nature of these initiatives.
In total, Masvingo Province has earmarked 677 projects, with 537 completed and 140 on the verge of completion.
Among the many devolution projects that have drastically changed the lives of the local community, 2 deserve special mention. These are the Mapfura Processing Plant in Mwenezi District and Simon Mazorodze School of Medicine at the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU).
The Mapfura Processing Plant investment has created 21 direct jobs and benefited 350 communal farmers who supply the fruit to the plant. In the spirit of NDS1 where development is underpinned by utilisation of local resource endowments, the model has greatly empowered the local community.
Since March 2023, 143 tonnes of mapfura fruit have been delivered to the plant while 14,000 litres of wine have been produced. The full potential of the plant was affected by drought which hit the district during the 2022-23 cropping season.
The province is grateful to His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E. D. Mnangagwa, for availing funds for the construction of the Simon Mazorodze School of Medicine. Currently, the medical school recruits 20 students per intake which will greatly assist in achieving the targets set in the National Health Strategy 2021-2025 through improved human resource capacitation of our health facilities.
Devolution has gone a long way in empowering and capacitating local authorities by bridging the financial gap that has always inhibited local authorities’ ability to deliver. Demand for social services as well as general infrastructure has increased due to the mushrooming of new settlements in the former commercial farming areas.
For instance, 80% of Mwenezi District was formerly occupied by white farmers before the historic Land Reform Programme. The new settlement brought increased demand for basic necessities like schools, clinics and potable water, hence Mwenezi District is channelling the bulk of its IGTFs towards the provision of these services.
We hope that with continued disbursements, local authorities will be capacitated enough to provide adequate services in-house without relying exclusively on private contractors who are usually very expensive.
The local authorities have wisely used the IGTFs to procure capital equipment for road construction. The investment will go a long way in maintaining rural road networks, thus promoting commerce and easy access to basic services like health and education in rural areas.
Funding constraints have drastically decelerated the implementation of the devolution agenda. From 2019-2023 we have so far received at least 11% of the allocated funds. At times disbursements were done towards the end of the year.
As an example, the construction of a clinic should be completed in less than 4 months, but in our case it has taken up to 2 years. This means that our goal to meet the dictates of Vision 2030 have already been compromised. The councils are complementing government efforts by utilising their own resources to ensure that targets are met.
With regards to the abuse of devolution funds, as Masvingo Province we have not encountered any such cases.
As a province, we are calling for complete decentralisation if devolution is to move at the accelerated pace that we envisage. All enabling Acts and regulations have to be put in place to ensure the success of the devolution agenda.
Without any doubt, devolution is aggressively transforming lives in the previously marginalised areas as we are realising accelerated basic infrastructure provision ranging from boreholes, clinics, schools, roads. Accessibility to basic services in all areas has tremendously improved.
Devolution has strengthened local democracy and enhanced allocative efficiency in several ways, but all this can only be attained by complete decentralisation. This decentralisation must, however, be done in the spirit of preserving the unitary status of the country to allow local democracy and enhanced allocative efficiency in the supply of public funds, goods and services.
As a province, we implore that the budgeting process in MDAs/projects bidding should start at village level to ensure that the Second Republic’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind” becomes a reality.
Matabeleland South Province
The devolution agenda under the Second Republic has transformed Matabeleland South Province rigorously in multi-faceted ways. Numerous projects have been initiated, implemented and completed, thereby improving the standard of living of the communities.
The initiative is one of the best ever conceived by the Zimbabwean government in that it addresses the felt needs of the communities. In the past, the majority of major projects were implemented in big cities like Bulawayo and Harare, leaving out other smaller towns, municipalities and rural areas. Such a scenario was also peculiar to the pre-devolution period in Kenya where Kikuyuland was the most developed region.
A total of ZWL$2,628,906,828.41 has been received since the inception of devolution in 2019 against an allocation of ZWL$16,813,881,266.65, representing a 15.6% receipt rate.
Devolution funds have been used for the construction of clinics, waiting mothers’ shelter, classroom blocks, ECD facilities, girls’ hostels, water-pump purchase and installations, water engine purchase, tractor and generator purchases, equipment and furniture for schools and clinics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) office installations, survey finance, rehabilitation of cattle pens, road maintenance, refuse tipper trucks and compactors and heavy-duty billing meters.
As for the selection criteria, projects which address the felt needs of communities, drawn from local authorities’ strategic plans, provincial economic development plans as well as those that relate to NDS1 priority areas were identified. Projects were identified through consultative processes from village, ward, rural district development committees (RDDCs) up to the provincial development committee (PDC). The projects are prioritised in line with the pressing needs of the communities. So far, over 50 projects have been successfully completed in all the 10 local authorities.
In a nutshell, devolution has helped in transforming lives in Matabeleland South. Clinics have improved access to primary health care and reduced distances travelled to health centres. Tractors ferried construction materials and other deliveries needed by the communities. Refuse trucks collected refuse to designated dump sites. Classroom blocks reduced congestion of pupils in the learning space while new schools reduced walking distances to and from learning institutions.
In addition, devolution has empowered sub-national tiers of government through participation in decision-making processes on matters that directly affect communities. It has also improved the finance base of local authorities to enable them to undertake projects which were long planned for but were gathering dust due to funding constraints. Now, thanks to devolution, local authorities have the capacity to improve trafficability of roads and access to basic services.
As far as the misappropriation of devolution funds is concerned, no such cases of have been brought to our attention. For the purposes of transparency, Matabeleland South local authorities were advised to use funds for their specific purposes, that is, programme-based budgeting must apply to all projects being implemented across the board.
To ensure that the devolution agenda continues to positively impact communities, there should be timeous disbursement of funds and the Ministry of Finance should adhere to the “at least 5% of revenue collected” for disbursement purposes.
Devolution has assisted in the transformation of people’s lives in previously marginalised communities, improved access to basic health, education as well as other critical services like registry. It has also trengthened lower level democracy through community participation, achieved access to services as these are brought closer to the people. Last, but by no means least, devolution allows for consensus in project identification as well as ownership thereof.
Below is a snapshot of some of the devolution projects so far implemented in Matabeleland South Province:
Above and below: Beitbridge District — Novhe Primary School: Status: Enrolment, 170 pupils, 5 teachers
Beitbridge District: Dumba Clinic — Status: Main Clinic structure painted, floors, fittings and ceiling done, 3 staff houses complete, water supply
Bulilima District: Somnene Clinic; Status: Ongoing
Bulilima District: Tjemahale Secondary School; Status: Ongoing
Bulilima District: Gambu Clinic; Status: Commissioned and opened in April 2022
Umzingwane District: Road equipment bought using devolution funds
Fig
Umzingwane District: Truck-mounted drilling rig
Matobo District, Ward 24: Umlugulu Clinic; Status: Completed
Matobo District: Sinkamaswe Primary classroom block; Status: Completed
Insiza District: Bekezela Primary School
Insiza District: Activity at Montrose 7 Clinic
Mashonaland Central Province
Devolution is one of the values espoused in Vision 2030 and is enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. It is one of the 14 national priority areas in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). Devolution is meant to make the system of governance community-based and people-centred by enhancing community participation in making decisions on local development issues that affect them and exercise government powers, whilst preserving national unity.
The devolution agenda has empowered the lower tiers of government to participate in development planning, starting from the grassroots levels and ultimately feeding into the national plan. Participation flows through the following technical structures — village development committees (VIDCOs), ward development committees (WADCOs), rural district development committees (RDDCs), provincial development committees (PDCs) right through to the National Development Committee.
The devolved structures of government have enhanced accountability to the electorate as well as ensuring the efficient delivery of public services.
The disbursement of devolution funds has facilitated the implementation of projects with high social and economic impact.
Devolution funds have made possible the capitalisation of local authorities with earthmoving equipment, vehicles and motorcycles for project supervision purposes, solarisation and computerisation of offices, among others.
Table 1: Amount of money spent on devolution projects since 2019
| No. | LOCAL AUTHORITY | 2019
(ZWL$) |
2020
(ZWL$) |
2021
(ZWL$) |
2022
(ZWL$) |
| 1 | Chaminuka | 4,742,000 | 5,300,000 | 42,396,000 | 127,200,000 |
| 2 | Pfura | 7,291,100 | 5,774,000 | 43,847,000 | 87,400,000 |
| 3 | Rushinga | 3,600,000 | 7,228,000 | 37,420, 946.80 | 55,200,000 |
| 4 | Mazowe | 2,300,000 | 6,787,612 | 20,900,000 | 88,400,000 |
| 5 | Mbire | 2,961,000 | 5,900,000 | 35,675,000 | 62,300,000 |
| 6 | Mvurwi Town | 7,411,664 | 4,216,000 | 20,082, 315.36 | 52, 400, 000 |
| 7 | Bindura | 5,634,000 | 5,880,000 | 36,500.000 | ,68,600, 000** |
| 8 | Guruve | 6,770,000 | 9,734,000 | 52,434,000 | 80,600,600 |
| 9 | Muzarabani | 5,767,000 | 5,887,000 | 57,976,400 | 72,700,000 |
| 10 | Bindura Municipality | 11,779,800 | 6,003,000 | 7,196,354 | 39,765,140.52 |
| TOTALS | 58,256,564 | 62,709, 612 | 354, 428, 016 | 734,565,740 |
The IGFT funds started in 2019 and, to date, the province has received ZWL$1,209,959,934.00. There is need to ensure timeous release of funds to local authorities to ensure speedy implementation and completion of devolution projects. The little availed funds are usually disbursed late in December of the budget year.
Projects that are being implemented in Mashonaland Central Province cut across all sectors of the economy, i.e. energy; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), road infrastructure, health and school infrastructure and earthmoving equipment. Decisions on how investments are made in devolution projects is guided by Section 301 Sub-Section 2d of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 20 of 2013).
Below is a snapshot of completed health infrastructure:
- Tarlington Clinic — Bindura District,
- Mupfure Clinic — Shamva District,
- Utete Clinic — Muzarabani District
- Mahuwe Clinic Waiting Shed
Tarlington Clinic: Project Location: Ward 5; Catchment Population: +/- 5,000; Number of beneficiaries: 30,000
Also benefiting from devolution funds was school infrastructure (classroom blocks) as depicted below:
- Tanaka, 1×2 classroom block — Mbire District
- Magonye, 1×2 classroom block — Mbire District
- Date Secondary School, 1×2 classroom block — Mt Darwin
- Kapanda Primary School, 1×2 classroom block — Mt Darwin
- Komba School, Angwa area — Mbire District
- Cowley Secondary School, 2×2 classroom blocks — Bindura District
Cowley Secondary School: Project Location: Ward 2, Bindura District; Beneficiaries: 350
Road infrastructure
- Museka Bridge — Guruve District
- Makuva Bridge – Guruve
- Nyakasikana-Karanda Road being implemented under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) that provides easy access to Karanda Mission Hospital for patients visiting the hospital from the southern parts of the province and Zimbabwe at large. This hospital now serves as a referral hospital for the province and the country at large
Capitalisation of selected local authorities
- Tipper trucks for Mazowe, Muzarabani, Chaminuka, Pfura, Mvurwi Town, Bindura RDC, Rushinga RDC
- Backhoe loaders
- Project vehicles
- Graders
- Drilling rig (procured by Chaminuka RDC)
Pfura RDC earthmoving equipment
Tipper truck in Rushinga RDC
Boreholes
Boreholes were drilled in the following areas:
- Makufa Village – Ward 14
- Huronga Primary – Ward
- Zvakwana Primary – Ward
- Simoona Village 4 – Ward 21
- Tarlington Clinic Farm
- Project Beneficiaries: 1,200
Below: Mt Darwin, 22-compartment public toilet; Beneficiaries: An average of 600 people per day
Under devolution, projects are identified at the grassroots level and channelled through the following technical structures: village development committees (VIDCOs), ward development committees (WADCOs), rural district development committees (RDDCs), provincial development committees (PDCs) feeding into the National Development Committee.
Identified projects are prioritised at every level of the technical structure from village, ward, district and right up to the province.
There are 172 IGFT-funded projects being implemented throughout the province. A total of 115 projects have been completed while 57 projects are at various advanced stages of completion.
Access to safe drinking water for both urban and rural dwellers is a key delivery area. Several solar-powered boreholes have been drilled and installed at different institutions and communal areas to provide water for establishment livelihood projects like fishery, nutritional gardens and poultry, among others.
There are quite a number of projects that have vastly transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the province. These include the Chawanda and Kamutsenzere piped water schemes in Mount Darwin, since water is quite a scarce resource in these 2 areas. Communities used to travel more than 5 km to fetch drinking water. The Chawanda Piped Water Scheme is benefiting 4 villages, translating to about 471 households, as well as Chawanda Primary and Secondary schools, Chawanda Clinic and Chawanda Business Centre, thus bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 4,620.
Located in the Dande Valley, the Kamutsenzere Piped Water Scheme also services a business centre, clinic, primary and secondary schools as well as 6 villages, translating to a population of 3,200.
We also have the Mahuwe High School solar-powered borehole that is providing water to the school for the irrigation of a nutritional garden, supporting a fishery project and supplying water to the surrounding communities, among others.
Learning institutions have also not been left behind. Several classroom blocks are being constructed at various schools to ensure adequate learning infrastructure for the increasing enrolments as well as reducing the walking distance to schools. Among the schools constructed are Dengu Primary ECD block, Tamuka Primary School and Blookdale Primary School in Bindura District.
There is also the Tanaka 2×2 classroom block in Mbire, Komba 2×2 classroom block in the Angwa area of Mbire District, a remote area near the border with Mozambique. Before Komba School was constructed, children used to cross the Angwa River to the nearest school. This affected the children especially during the rain seasons as school attendance was reduced, resulting in school dropouts, especially among the girl-children.
A number of schools are being built closer to citizens thereby making education accessible to all eligible citizens. Renovations were done at Bande Primary School in Mbire District. Learners used to travel more than 10 km to the nearest school, which is situated at Mahuwe Growth Point. Infants had no access to early childhood development (ECD) schools since it was impossible for them to walk such long distances. In addition, the school dropout and early child marriage rates were equally high.
The construction of such schools is in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra that there should be no one and no place left behind in terms of access to schools and general development of remote areas.
Top and above: Bande Primary classroom block construction. [[Bande Primary School in Mbire District has brought a huge sigh of relief to learners who used to travel more than 10 km to the nearest school]]
The newly constructed 1×10 Blair toilets at Bande Primary School
A semi-detached staff house at Bande Primary School
Several health facilities are being constructed on farms and remote areas of the province thereby enhancing health service delivery to citizens. Facilities such as Tarlington Clinic in Bindura District and Chomutukutu Clinic in Rushinga are among the health facilities being constructed throughout the province.
Devolution has also gone a long way in empowering and capacitating provincial and local authorities through computerisation and solarisation of offices.
Capitalisation of all local authorities with earthmoving machines, such as graders, drilling rigs, backhoe loaders and tipper trucks, among others, is also ongoing. A drilling rig has been purchased by Chaminuka RDC, while tipper trucks have been purchased by Muzarabani RDC, Pfura RDC, Mazowe RDC and Rushinga RDC. Law enforcement has also received a boost with the construction of a police post at Nyakusengwa in the remotest parts of Rushinga District.
The late disbursement of funds from the Treasury and the prevailing inflationary pressures are key factors affecting the timeous completion of devolution projects.
On the plus side, the province has not encountered any abuse of devolution funds. However, there is greater need to ensure that devolution funds are disbursed timeously to ensure the speedy implementation of projects.
Thanks to devolution, local democracy and allocative efficiency in the supply of goods and services is gradually being strengthened as citizens are participating in their local development planning and in making important decisions on issues that affect them. Transparency and accountability are equally enhanced through community participation throughout the project’s life cycle right up to the commissioning stage.
Bulawayo Province
The devolution agenda is a noble idea that seeks to allow ordinary citizens to contribute to the development in their areas through active participation in projects that directly benefit them as a community. It empowers ordinary people to have a say in development issues.
Further to that, devolution is implementing the concept of decentralisation to lower tiers of government to support economic and societal growth through provision of infrastructure and authority to make binding decisions. In addition, it has added impetus on the need to keep public officers on their toes as it has enhanced accountability and transparency in the management of devolution funds.
As depicted in the Table 2 below, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) received the first disbursement in 2019. The City has so far been allocated ZWL$5,975,418,820.39, which includes the 2023 allocation.
Table 2: BCC total disbursements and variances to date
| YEAR | BUDGET | ACTUAL RECEIVED |
| 2019 | 3,842,008.39 | 29,334,799.37 |
| 2020 | 73,541,112.00 | 12,000,000.00 |
| 2021 | 500,105,100.00 | 54,503,703.00 |
| 2022 | 1,348,383,000.00 | 176,200,000.00 |
| 2023 | 4,049,547,600.00 | 90,000,000.00 |
| TOTALS | 5,975,418,820.39 | 362,038,502.37 |
The City of Bulawayo has so far received ZWL$362,038,502.37. Unfortunately, in some cases the money was not received on time.
Table 3: SSN: Can we please add variances column to above table and delete the table below?????
| YEAR | BUDGET | ACTUAL RECEIVED | VARIANCE |
| 2019 | 3,842,008.39 | 29,334,799.37 | (25,492,790.98) |
| 2020 | 73,541,112.00 | 12,000,000.00 | 61,541,112.00 |
| 2021 | 500,105,100.00 | 54,503,703.00 | 445,601,397.00 |
| 2022 | 1,348,383,000.00 | 176,200,000.00 | 1,172,183,000.00 |
| 2023 | 4,049,547,600.00 | 90,000,000.00 | 3,959,547,600.00 |
| TOTALS | 5,975,418,820.39 | 362,038,502.37 | 5,613,380,318.02 |
Table 4 below identifies the projects on which the money was invested and the reasons why it was invested therein.
Table 3: Project rationale
| PROJECT | WHY THIS PROJECT |
| Sewer outfall rehabilitation project (Matshobana) | To Improve waste water management. |
| 40 m Road — Cowdray Park | Improved community cohesion, traffic safety, connectivity and reduced travelling times. |
| Computer Equipment | Improved access and dissemination of information, data collection, analysis and manipulation. |
| Fernhill Vacuum Contactors | Improved clean water delivery. |
| Installation of soft starters at Inyankuni Pump Station | Improved clean water delivery. |
| Rewinding of two Sulzer electric motors for Fernhill Pump Station | Improved clean water delivery. |
| Aisleby 1 & 2 Treatment Plant pump acquisition | Improved waste water management |
| Installation of pressure reducing valves | Improved water management |
| Construction of Vulindlela Primary School | Improved access to education for the community. |
| Thorngrove Hospital rehabilitation | Improved access to health |
| Colbro-Mac Sewer Outfall | Improved waste water management |
| Vulindlela Primary School Phase 2 | Improved access to education for the community. |
Table 4: Summary of projects completed with devolution funding
| PROJECT | BUDGET | ACTUAL |
| Completed | USD | USD |
| Sewer outfall rehabilitation project (Matshobana) | 3,705,897.99 | 3,705,897.30 |
| 40 m Road | 14,331,045.73 | 14,331,045.73 |
| Computer Equipment | 429,538.43 | 429,538.43 |
| Fern Hill Vacuum Contactors | 487,540.18 | 487,540.18 |
| Installation of soft starters at Inyankuni Pump Station | 2,062,429.79 | 2,062,429.79 |
| Rewinding of two Sulzer electric motors for Fern Hill Pump Station | 5,407,802.24 | 2,252,440.68 |
| Aisleby 1 & 2 Treatment Plants Rehabilitation | 3,946,597.99 | 3,946,597.99 |
| Installation of Pressure Reducing Valves | 440,000.00 | 169,549.35 |
| Construction of Vulindlela Primary School | 118,389,000.00 | 17,160,248.69 |
| Thorngrove Hospital Rehabilitation | 140,410,000.00 | 50,627,908.75 |
| Colbro-Mac Sewer Outfall | 6,530,000.00 | 9,597,940.31 |
As at 31 December 2022, a total of 11 projects were implemented. Currently, 1 project is still ongoing from the previous year. (Please note that some projects were implemented in phases
Table 5 below shows the list of projects that were carried over from the previous year and those earmarked for 2023
Table 5
| PROJECTS NOT UNDERTAKEN | ZWL$ |
| Entumbane Ntabeni Outfall renewal | 1,741,000.00 |
| Aisleby 3 – 675 mm concrete section sewer outfall collapse | 9,055,000.00 |
| Aisleby 1 sewer outfalls — rehabilitation of sewer manholes and lids | 435,000.00 |
| Pumula East Collapsed Steel Section and Pumula East Outfall Diameter 400 mm | 15,237,000.00 |
| Tshabalala Pump Station 200 mm sewer pipe | 131,000.00 |
| Sauerstown collapse – 675 mm concrete section | 4,354,000.00 |
| Tegela collapse– 675 mm concrete section | 4,354,000.00 |
| Lobengula Street sewer upgrade | 13,061,000.00 |
| Cowdray Park Pump Station diversion | 8,707,000.00 |
| Wakefield Mains Renewal | 2,090,000.00 |
| Spreckley Mains Replacement | 1,088,000.00 |
| Luveve Corridor water mains renewal | 10,884,000.00 |
| Pumula East water mains renewal diameter – 300 mm | 43,535,000.00 |
| Trenance water mains diversion | 2,612,000.00 |
| New Lobengula mains renewal | 8,707,000.00 |
| Fire Hydrants — citywide | 2,177,000.00 |
| Street lighting rehabilitation | 120,000,000.00 |
| Towerlight rehabilitation | 80,000,000.00 |
| Aterial Road — New road construction | 110,000,000.00 |
| Aterial Road-Nkulumane Drive between Agogo Road and Clinic | 70,000,000.00 |
| Aterial Road-McNellie/ Redstone/ Hill/Kabot Drive sections | 84,000,000.00 |
| Minor Road-Hospital Road | 5,600,000.00 |
| Minor Road-B. B. Burombo | 6,200,000.00 |
| Minor Road-St Albans/Balley Road | 16,000,000.00 |
| Minor Road — Local streets high-density suburbs at 2.5 km per ward | 58,000,000.00 |
| CBD Road-Bristol Road North and South | 50,000,000.00 |
| Vulindlela Primary School Phase 2 | 350,000,000.00 |
| Frontend Loader | 287,500,000.00 |
| Excavator | 241,500,000.00 |
| Motorised Grader | 725,000,000.00 |
| Tipper trucks (5m3) | 140,000,000.00 |
| Hand-Operated Bitumen Sprayer “Baby Tar” | 10,000,000.00 |
| Fire Tenders | – |
| Combined Chip Spreader and Bitumen Distributor | 150,000,000.00 |
| Pole Auger Vehicle | 29,000,000.00 |
| Hydraulic Platform Vehicle | 27,000,000.00 |
| Refuse Compactor Vehicle | 87,000,000.00 |
There are 2 devolution projects that have vastly changed the lives of people in Bulawayo Province. One of them is the Vulindlela Primary School project, whic has an enrolment of about 1,100 pupils. The construction of this school has reduced the distance walked by schoolchildren to and from school. It has also reduced hot-seating in nearby schools. The second project is the Matshobana sewer rehabilitation project. The community was exposed to overflowing sewage in the streets, exposing them to water-borne diseases. This was averted through the timeous rehabilitation of the sewer line through the devolution funds. The environment is now free from waste water.
Vulindlela Primary School
Vulindlela Primary School with learners
Vulindlela Primary School: Fourth classroom block under construction
Matshobana sewer rehabilitation
Matshobana sewer rehabilitation
Matshobana sewer rehabilitation
The devolution agenda is empowering communities to make decisions in their localities. It also capacitates local authorities through acquisition and refurbishment of local authorities’ infrastructure. For example, the rewinding of motors ensured uninterrupted pumping of water to the communities, provision of education through schools’ construction, while the acquisition of computer equipment was an intervention that sought to enhance efficiency in service delivery.
The delays in availing funds for projects meant that some projects were overtaken by events. In some instances, very little was received compared to the allocation. As a result, some projects were still-born. Some projects were suspended as new needs emerged. These shall be revisited once the new identified projects have been completed.
On the positive side, Bulawayo Province has not encountered any challenges in the use of devolution funds. To minimise the risk of embezzlement, a dedicated bank account was opened for the funds.
In order to ensure that the devolution agenda is implemented efficiently and effectively, there is a need for a framework to ensure the timely disbursement of funds to ensure continuity in the project cycle. A quarterly disbursement would enable proper planning and ensure constant monitoring of the projects. Sub-committees must be set up to oversee the implementation of projects and these should be linked with the Treasury. Also consider eliminating the innumerable steps between the implementing institutions and disbursement. Procedures are critical and should be explained in full to those tasked with project implementation.
Without doubt, the devolution agenda is transforming lives. On the ground, there is significant transformation. However, more could be done. The main challenge is low and slow disbursements. Improved funds disbursement will result in improved impact such that no one and no place is left behind. The Vulindlela School project and acquisition of computers stand out as shining examples of devolution in practice.
In addition, devolution has strengthened local democracy. However, allocative efficiency can be strengthened by fully and timely disbursing funds allocated to support the projects.
Mashonaland West Province
The Second Republic, has since 2017, been implementing devolution which is one of the fundamentals of achieving Vision 2030 goals. One of the major objectives of devolution and decentralisation as enunciated in the Constitution is that of giving powers of local governance to the people and enhancing their participation in the exercise of the powers of the state and in making decisions on issues which affect them.
The concept of devolution uses population size and the extent of marginalisation of a particular community when allocating resources. In the long run, this will ensure equality among communities in terms of development.
The devolution agenda has improved the engagement of communities by local authorities in terms of planning and implementation of projects. Furthermore, devolution has recapitalised local authorities and created an enabling environment in communities through devolution projects that allow communities to pay levies.
Mashonaland West Province has been allocated a cumulative ZWL$31.6 billion since the devolution programme started in 2019 (see Table 6 below). Rural local authorities were allocated 66.2% of the total budget. Hurungwe and Zvimba had the largest allocations by virtue of their size.
Table 6: Breakdown of Mashonaland West’s devolution budget
| LOCAL AUTHORITY | 2019 (ZWL$) | 2020 (ZWL$) | 2021 (ZWL$) | 2022 (ZWL$) | 2023 (ZWL$) | Total (ZWL$) |
| Chinhoyi Municipality | 4,184,000 | 9,668,000 | 119,200,900 | 321,389,600.00 | 1,212,856,000 | 1,667,298,500 |
| Kariba Municipality | 2,693,000 | 2,893,000 | 87,151,400 | 234,977,700.00 | 886,756,000 | 1,214,471,100 |
| Karoi Town Council | 2,934,000 | 4,510,000 | 101,666,800 | 274,114,200.00 | 1,034,449,000 | 1,417,674,000 |
| Chirundu Local Board | 2,707,000 | 1,134,000.00 | 109,431,000.60 | 295,048,000.00 | 1,113,448,000 | 1,521,768,001 |
| Norton Town Council | 3,894,000 | 8,934,000 | 122,327,200 | 329,819,000.00 | 1,244,666,000 | 1,709,640,200 |
| Kadoma City Council | 4,580,000 | 11,813,000 | 122,821,500 | 331,151,800.00 | 1,249,694,000 | 1,720,060,300 |
| Chegutu Municipality | 3,463,000 | 6,930,000 | 102,113,400 | 275,318,600.00 | 1,038,992,000 | 1,426,817,000 |
| Sanyati RDC | 4,193,000 | 20,778,000 | 171,536,100 | 462,495,600.00 | 1,745,360,000 | 2,404,362,700 |
| Hurungwe RDC | 14,987,000 | 81,735,000 | 330,405,800 | 890,840,400.00 | 3,361,841,000 | 4,679,809,200 |
| Mhondoro-Ngezi RDC | 4,177,000 | 22,360,000 | 164,452,900 | 443,398,300.00 | 1,673,289,000 | 2,307,677,200 |
| Makonde RDC | 6,506,000 | 34,409,000 | 205,983,600 | 555,373,700.00 | 2,095,860,000 | 2,898,132,300 |
| Zvimba RDC | 11,763,000 | 64,365,000 | 278,311,500 | 750,384,000.00 | 2,831,787,000 | 3,936,610,500 |
| Chegutu RDC | 6,586,000 | 36,736,000 | 197,162,900 | 531,590,600.00 | 2,006,110,000 | 2,778,185,500 |
| Nyaminyami RDC | 2,334,000 | 41,105,000 | 135,218,300 | 364,576,200.00 | 1,375,830,000 | 1,919,063,500 |
| TOTAL | 75,001,000 | 347,370,000 | 2,247,783,301 | 6,060,477,700 | 22,870,938,000 | 31,601,570,001 |
Table 7: Table contents not specified ?????
| LOCAL AUTHORITY | 2019 (ZWL$) | 2020 (ZWL$) | 2021 (ZWL$) | 2022 (ZWL$) | 2023 (ZWL$) | Total (ZWL$) |
| Chinhoyi Municipality | ||||||
| Kariba Municipality | 952,223,455 | |||||
| Karoi Town Council | 141,810,000 | |||||
| Chirundu Local Board | 2,707,000 | 7,563,000 | 34,571,000.00 | 182,073,076 | 40,700,000 | 267,614,077 |
| Norton Town Council | 135,545,693 | |||||
| Kadoma City Council | ||||||
| Chegutu Municipality | ||||||
| Sanyati RDC | 4,193,000 | 5,500,000 | 53,400,000 | 204,224,446 | 69,200,000 | 336,517,446 |
| Hurungwe RDC | 14,987,000 | 5,900,000 | 87,579,445,77 | 264,857,945 | 134,900,000 | 508,224,467 |
| Mhondoro-Ngezi RDC | 4,177,000 | 5,500,000 | 73,684,341 | 77,700,000 | 112,662,268 | 273,723,609 |
| Makonde RDC | ||||||
| Zvimba RDC | ||||||
| Chegutu RDC | ||||||
| Nyaminyami RDC |
Devolution funds allocated to Mashonaland West were used mainly in the implementation of projects in 6 categories as prescribed by the Constitution in Section 301 2d. These include water and sanitation, roads, health facilities, amenities, education facilities and electricity. The choice of projects was informed by the needs of the communities as identified through stakeholder engagement programmes conducted by the local authorities.
Table 8 below summarises the major projects implemented using devolution funds.
Table 8: Summary of completed and ongoing projects
| Category | No. of Completed Projects | No. of Ongoing Projects |
| Education | 20 | 37 |
| Health | 6 | 9 |
| Water and Sanitation | 10 | 21 |
| Road Equipment | 14 | 3 |
| Amenities | 5 | 6 |
| Electricity (Solar Street Lights) | 5 | 1 |
| Other Projects | 3 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 63 | 80 |
A total of 63 major projects have been completed while about 80 are still ongoing and are currently at different stages of completion. The major highlights in terms of implementation of devolution projects include the purchase of borehole drill rigs and the construction of several clinics. So far, the province has bought 4 borehole drilling rigs which are drilling boreholes to complement government efforts towards rural industrialisation. In Mhondoro, 4 piped water schemes — Gweshe, Mbudzirume, Twintops and Chemaheu – are now operational.
Other completed projects include the purchase of 4 drilling rigs and 7 motorised graders; building and refurbishment of 5 clinics; building and refurbishment of over 12 classroom blocks.
The projects were selected by the beneficiaries through consultation meetings. Local authorities consult communities during strategic plan review meetings as well as budget consultation meetings.
Through devolution the province has seen a number of clinics being constructed in the 7 districts. A total of 15 clinics have been constructed. Most of these have been completed while some are nearing completion.
Table 9: Clinics constructed using devolution funds
| Local Authority | Clinic |
| Makonde RDC | Gandawasvika |
| Mupata Clinic | |
| Magogi Clinic | |
| Chegutu RDC | Brunswick Clinic |
| Danagwe Clinic | |
| Ward 26 Clinic | |
| Katawa Clinic | |
| Chinhoyi | Mzari Clinic |
| Alaska Clinic | |
| Hurungwe | Masikati Clinic |
| Chaedza Clinic | |
| Vuti Clinic | |
| Sanyati RDC | Mari Mari Clinic |
| Masasa Clinic | |
| Kadoma | FCH Clinic |
Devolution has gone a long way in empowering local authorities through the recapitalisation process. Until now, most local authorities relied on hired equipment for road maintenance and rehabilitation. Thanks to devolution, local authorities are now in a position to buy motorised graders, iron rollers, tipper trucks and tractors. To date, a total of 7 motorised graders, 2 iron rollers, about 6 tipper trucks and several tractors were procured using devolution funds. This equipment will ensure that most roadworks will be done in-house, thus saving ratepayers’ money.
Another area where the Second Republic has made significant strides to empower local authorities is in water and sewer reticulation. So far, several urban local authorities have benefited through devolution. In Chegutu Wards 5 and 8, over 5 km water and sewer lines were decommissioned after the cholera outbreak in 2008 only to be brought to life by devolution funds in 2020 and 2021. Urban dwellers had gone for 15 years without water, until government stepped in with devolution funds. Now they have running water. This is great empowerment!
The councils had failed to provide water for these communities. In Norton, the 400-metre-long Ngoni sewer trunk line and sewage treatment plant were brought to life through devolution. The same goes for Kadoma City and Chinhoyi Municipality water treatment plants.
One of the key challenges that has hindered the devolution agenda in the province is slow and late disbursement of funds. This has been attributed, first, to the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and, secondly, the macroeconomic fluctuations being experienced in the country. The disbursement rate of the funds marginally declined as of mid-year 2021, thereby contributing significantly to delays in the completion of projects.
For example, some contractors were forced to request for top-ups to the agreed prices. This had the net effect of slashing down the amount of money available to fund the projects. If the allocated funds were availed in time the impact of devolution would be much higher. However, kudos to the Treasury because despite the challenges they have kept on disbursing funds under a very harsh economic environment.
With regard to the misappropriation of funds, Mashonaland West Province has not encountered such problems. This has been achieved through constant monitoring of programmes where the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs partners with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in monitoring the projects. In addition, our local authorities are results-oriented and have strong mechanisms that do discourage the misuse of public funds.
As Mashonaland West, we think the finalisation of the Devolution Bill will be major boost as it will expand the roles of everyone involved in its implementation. There is need for all the government ministries, department and agencies to decentralise to the provinces to ensure harmony in the implementation of the devolution agenda.
Capacity development is still highly recommended so that government departments embrace the whole-of-government approach when coordinating the devolution agenda. We think the Treasury should expedite the disbursement of funds to ensure that projects are completed in time while media coverage on devolution should improve to ensure that what is being done on the ground gets maximum publicity.
The devolution agenda has strengthened the relationship between local authorities and ward development committees/communities/civic societies by engagement to influence council decisions during the planning and implementation stages. Devolution has also empowered communities to play an oversight role over devolution projects and council operations.
The Second Republic has also enhanced allocative efficiency in the disbursement of public funds and supply of goods and services because local authorities now have the power to administer devolution funds. Above all, local authorities are now able to channel funds towards projects that address local needs. Devolution has also resulted in increased efficiency of local authority operations by minimising bureaucracy as levels of decision-making are closer to the people, thus fostering development.
Midlands Province
The Second Republic has made deliberate efforts to implement devolution following its enactment in the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 20) Act 2013. Devolution has greatly shifted the development landscape as well as correcting colonial imbalances arising out of skewed development priorities.
Rural areas have previously been marginalised inasmuch as development is concerned. However, devolution has been able to plug that gap with the fundamental instrument being the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers, commonly termed devolution funds, made to local authorities.
Devolution funds have been disbursed as follows:
| Rural Local Authorities | Allocated Funds (2019-2023) ZWL$ | Disbursed Funds (2019-2023) ZWL$ | Percentage Disbursed (2019-2023) |
| Chirumhanzu RDC | 1,856,752,500.00 | 222,333,313.00 | 12% |
| Gokwe North RDC | 3,102,180,348.00 | 131,933,000.00 | 4% |
| Gokwe South RDC | 1,094,619,833.00 | 212,048,000.00 | 19% |
| Mberengwa RDC | 2,647,168,499.46 | 242,283,972.00 | 9% |
| Tongogara RDC | 1,608,216,568.25 | 129,219,109.00 | 8% |
| Runde RDC | 1,580,794,900.00 | 203,090,750.00 | 13% |
| Vungu RDC | 491,694,965.00 | 187,132,464.31 | 38% |
| Zibagwe RDC | 2,315,534,200.00 | 215,002,945.00 | 9% |
| Sub-total | 14,696,961,813.71 | 1,543,043,553.31 | 10% |
| Urban Local Authorities | Allocated Funds (2019-2023) | Disbursed Funds (2019-2023) | Percentage Disbursed (2019-2023) |
| Gokwe Town Council | 418,156,619.36 | 152,013,315.36 | 36% |
| Gweru City Council | 1,811,907,136.10 | 292,579,510.00 | 16% |
| Kwekwe City Council | 1,467,490,042.40 | 165,906,315.36 | 11% |
| Redcliff Municipality |
367,806,700.00 |
224,820,959.00 |
61% |
| US$650,000.00 | |||
| Shurugwi Town Council | 1,111,234,600.00 | 112,347,309.00 | 10% |
| Zvishavane Town Council | 1,039,997,433.12 | 132,223,302.06 | 13% |
| Sub-total | 6,216,592,530.90 | 1,079,890,710.70 | |
| Grant Total | 20,913,554,344.00 | 2,622,934,264.00 | |
| US$650,000.00 |
Projects were prioritised in terms of Section 301(d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 20) Act 2013, which provides for areas in which devolution funds should be applied and these are: WASH, roads, health, education, electricity and social amenities. The projects into which devolution funds were invested were identified through strategic plans and budget consultations.
Reports show that so far there are 131 completed projects, 66 work-in-progress projects, 49 projects yet to start.
Below are some of the projects which have transformed the lives of several thousands of people.
Zibagwe Rural District Council — Sherwood Clinic executive ward
Equipped with high-tech medical facilities, the health centre provides specialist services to the Sherwood community with a catchment population of around 1,200.
Kwekwe City Council
Kwekwe Infectious Diseases Hospital (pictured below) has improved the city’s preparedness to contain infectious diseases and improved health delivery.
CAPTION: Kwekwe City Council Infectious Diseases Hospital
Chirumhanzu RDC: Hwata Clinic, Ward 6 — Catchment area population of 1,900.
Located in Ward 13, Mtora is one of the newest primary schools in the district with an enrolment of 400 learners. In the past, the school was housed at the Gokwe Community Centre, a council-owned building that is in need of rehabilitation. The school needed modern infrastructure and furniture to ensure learners’ safety and comfort.
To meet this need, 2 classroom blocks were constructed on a much larger school site in Ward 13. Thanks to its spacious new location, the school has expanded its enrolment and now provides a better learning environment for its pupils.
Gokwe North RDC — Mtora Primary School
NO PICTURE OF MTORA PRIMARY SCHOOL????
Gokwe Town Council
Mapfungautsi Polyclinic in Gokwe Town has reduced pressure on Gokwe District Hospital which serves as a referral centre for the 2 Gokwe districts. Urban communities can now access general health services and maternal health care nearer to their homes. The clinic serves an estimated +8,000 population.
Mapfungautsi Polyclinic, Ward 5 (Gokwe Urban) — Catchment population: +/- 8,000
Gokwe South RDC
The district has had perennial challenges with its road network. However, since the acquisition of the road equipment, a number of roads have been serviced. Accessibility to some hard to reach areas has improved, benefiting an estimated 75,000 people.
ABOVE: Sebanga Polyclinic – Dispensary (left) and Out-Patients Department (right)
Runde Rural District Council — Marira Piped Water Scheme and Marira Clinic
Marira Clinic Pipeline Scheme
Patients in Ward 4 and neighbouring wards used to travel long distances to the nearest health facilities to get medical attention. Now the distances have been reduced, enabling them to access medical attention much quicker. This also guarantees them more time to attend to various household chores and economic activities. In addition, 5 primary schools, namely Venge, Danga and Shiku and Wasima and Bera secondary schools are benefiting from the supply of potable water along with 2 business centres with 30 shops. Seven villages with an estimated population of 2,205 are in the process of connecting their homesteads to the pipeline. Headman Shiku’s homestead has already been connected.
Above; Marira Clinic, Runde RDC
Gweru City Council – Equipment (front-end loader)
In the past, government gave grants to local authorities to fund infrastructure development and the purchase of plant and equipment. However, when the grants stopped, development in the districts also came to a grinding halt. The introduction of devolution has resuscitated councils and capacitated their operations.
As we implement devolution, we have faced a number of challenges that include late disbursements, allocation and disbursement discrepancies between councils, and high inflationary rates that affect the value of funds disbursed. However, we have come up with home-grown solutions, such as augmenting devolution funds with council’s own funds, buying in bulk, engagement of relevant ministries, departments and agencies for technical support and prioritisation of projects and focusing on a few key projects that can be completed within a calendar year before moving on to the next project.
As the Midlands Province, we think the following factors should be considered for devolution to be implemented efficiently and effectively. The enactment of the Provincial Councils and Administration Bill is a fundamental requirement towards providing a strong policy and legal framework to guide the implementation of devolution.
Subsequently, operationalisation of provincial councils is also critical in driving the devolution agenda and an improvement in the allocation formula to enhance equity and timeous allocations and disbursements of funds.
The implementation of the devolution agenda has transformed the lives of many people in previously marginalised areas through infrastructural development, improved living standards as well as improved government visibility in communities through council and community participation.
Broadly, devolution has strengthened local democracy and enhanced allocative efficiency in the disbursement of public funds, and supply of goods and services. Communities now have a say in matters pertaining to development that affect them although there is need for improved decentralisation by some ministries, departments and agencies. Areas that are not endowed with natural resources can benefit regardless of their resource status.
But, by and large, a more deliberate effort to attain equitable resource allocation to address issues of marginalisation is being realised.
Matabeleland North Province
Local authorities in the previous era had no capacity to meet the needs of their communities adequately. Through the allocation of devolution funds, we have witnessed the capacitation and empowerment of our local authorities. The devolution agenda has brought about improvements to the province through various service delivery projects that include road infrastructure, water and sanitation and hygiene, schools, clinics and hospitals.
It has also empowered the communities to identify and prioritise their needs in conjunction with their local authorities through community participation in project planning and implementation.
There are 7 rural district councils and 2 local boards in Matabeleland North. These are Bubi Rural District Council, Binga Rural District Council, Hwange Rural District Council, Tsholotsho Rural District Council, Umguza Rural District Council, Nkayi Rural District Council and Kusile Rural District Council. Lupane and Hwange are the 2 local boards.
Information from these rural district councils and the local boards shows that these entities faced identical challenges as they implemented the devolution agenda.
Bubi Rural District Council
The devolution agenda has been a game-changer as it has capacitated council to implement several projects within the district. It has also made it possible for the people’s preferences to be attended to, through the consultative process the council adopts before implementing projects in various wards and villages.
As a result, there has been a vast improvement in the delivery of social services, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the district. Infrastructure – schools and clinics, in particular — has improved. So has the acquisition of capital equipment, just to mention a few. These are not only the basic needs required by society, but also the foundation and pillars of development.
The various devolution projects being implemented under the Second Republic will help in the attainment of Vision 2030 while leaving no place and no one behind.
Disbursements were as follows:
| YEAR | DISBURSEMENT |
| 2019 | ZWL$4,250,000.00 |
| 2020 | ZWL$4,400,000.00 |
| 2021 | ZWL$41,700,000.00 |
| 2022 | ZWL$75,100,000.00 |
| 2023 | ZWL$68,200,000.00 |
| TOTAL | ZWL$193,650,000.00 |
The money was used to improve education facilities through the construction of classroom blocks and staff cottages; improving health facilities through the construction and renovation of clinics; provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) by drilling and equipping boreholes; construction of ablution facilities and procurement of plant and equipment. These developments are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to improve the quality of people’s lives.
Unfortunately, most of the disbursements did not come in time.
Completed projects
The local authority engaged the community leaders (councillors) to identify critical areas that required education facilities, health services and those in need of safe drinking water. Below is a list of the completed projects:
Education facilities
- Bubi Primary School – classroom block
- Tshayile Primary School – toilets
- Esiphikeni Primary School – classroom block
- Mhlabathini Primary School – roofing of classroom block
- Battlefields Primary School – classroom block
- Mavikaneni Primary School – 2 classroom blocks, 2 staff cottages
Health facilities
- Bona Clinic – Main Clinic construction, fencing, 2 staff cottages, borehole drilling and equipping, Blair toilets, furnishing and equipping the clinic, which now provides medical services to at least 5,704 patients.
Bona Clinic is situated in Ward 21 of Bubi District. Prior to its construction, it was common for patients to travel about 20 km to the nearest medical facility. Due to the new clinic’s accessibility, the community’s residents’ standard of living has improved.
- Majiji Clinic – Renovations of main clinic, 3 staff cottages, waste management system
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Bubi Rural District Council has managed to drill and equip 5 boreholes at Mathonisa, Mathole, Enaleni, cultural centre and Kenilworth. In these areas there was a shortage of water with women and young girls walking long distances to access safe drinking water. The drilling of the boreholes is in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 6, which calls for the availability of water and sanitation for all.
Plant and equipment
Equipment acquired included a backhoe loader, dam scooper, 4 wheel-drive 80-horsepower tractor, and plough
The Second Republic is making giant strides in empowering and capacitating Zimbabwe’s provincial and local authorities with the necessary resources for service delivery. All this will go a long way in achieving Vision 2030 which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle income economy by 2030.
We have been capacitated with resources which enable us to improve the education, health, water and sanitation services in Bubi District. With the new plant and equipment, we will also be able to provide better services.
The major challenge we are facing is the late disbursement of funds. The mismatch between the allocated and disbursed funds is too wide, which has a negative effect on our plans. This, unfortunately, has resulted in slow progress in the implementation of some projects.
We were not able to acquire critical equipment, such as a rig and tipper truck. Capital equipment is quite pivotal to our operations as it reduces the cost of hiring equipment which is essential in offering our communities quality service in time.
Binga Rural District Council
Devolution has brought development to marginalised communities. The main criterion on how funds are allocated is poverty prevalence which ensures development is brought to the marginalised.
| YEAR | BUDGET ALLOCATION | DISBURSEMENT |
| 2019 | ZWL$5,927,000.00 | ZWL$5,927,000.00 |
| 2020 | ZWL$3,376,000.00
|
ZWL$3,376,000.00 |
| 2021 | ZWL$208,000,000.00 | ZWL$39,250,000.00 |
| 2022 | ZWL$419,000,000.00 | ZWL$127,200,000.00 |
| 2023 | ZWL$1,600,000 000.00 | ZWL$88,000,000.00 |
| Total |
Reasons for choosing devolution projects
The shortage of health centres was viewed as the major challenge in the district. For example, the Malaliya community depended heavily on the neighbouring clinics which are more than 15 km away, almost double the recommended radius of less than 8 km. Most communities, especially those along the border, face myriad challenges in accessing services from nearby health facilities. This is more pronounced during the rainy season when there are reports of complicated malaria cases and subsequent deaths, large numbers of HIV/AIDS patients on anti-retroviral therapy defaulting and pregnant mothers giving birth at home.
Just like health centres, educational facilities were regarded as a major challenge. The distance travelled by children, especially those attending ECD classes and people living with disabilities, to the next nearest schools was very long. Some of the schools, notably Mansenya Primary School, had thatched classroom blocks, which caused lessons to be abandoned during the rainy season.
It is, therefore, against this background that Binga District wholeheartedly embraced the construction of health and educational facilities with part of its share of devolution funds.
Chibondo and Mansenya primary schools
Chibondo Primary School
The community had struggled to build decent structures for the school due to financial constraints. Classes were being conducted in makeshift structures as well as in the open. They had embarked on the building of 1 classroom block, but could not raise money for the roof and finishing touches.
The targeted works were to complete the classroom block as well as constructing 2 F14 staff houses. The 3 structures are now 100% complete. Approximately 2,000 people are benefiting from this school. The literacy rate has improved due to improved accommodation for both learners and teachers
CAPTION: Chibondo Primary School staff cottages
Mansenya Primary School
Like Chibondo Primary School, Mansenya suffered from a paucity of decent facilities for its learners and depended on old thatched structures which were inhabitable during the rainy season. The targeted works were to complete the classroom block. Approximately 1,500 people are benefiting from the school with a commensurate improvement in the literacy rate as well as teachers’ accommodation.
This picture collage shows the transformation that has taken place at Mansenya Primary School, thanks to the advent of devolution
Hwange Rural District Council
Since the inception of devolution, Hwange RDC has received a total of ZWL$288,488,322.06 against an allocation of ZWL$2,217,073,600.57 with a variance ZWL$2,101,321,278.57.
The money was channelled towards the construction of health infrastructure and the rehabilitation of storm-damaged infrastructure as well as the acquisition of plant and equipment. Council opted for the construction of clinics in order to improve access to health services as some of the wards did not have clinics while distance to the nearest health services was too long.
One clinic was completed and awaiting commissioning while 6 x 1×2 classroom blocks have been rehabilitated. One classroom has been constructed and now ready for use.
CAPTION: The newly-completed semi-detached cottages at Leona Clinic
Tsholotsho Rural District Council
A view of the Sipepa classroom block, Ward 5
A motorist gets a feel of the refurbished Makodola Bridge in Ward 12
Umguza Rural District Council
Heany Junction Clinic
Bhekeni Clinic
Lupane Local Board
Lupane Local Board started receiving devolution funds in 2019 when it was allocated ZWL$1,301,987,753.91.
We received ZWL$115,720,233.95, and most of it at the end of the year.
The projects we implemented were identified during the budget consultation meetings and through quarterly feedback meetings with the residents.
The percentage of disbursements against allocation in implementing devolution makes it difficult to make meaningful progress in development, hence project completion is prolonged. To mitigate this challenge, we often supplement the disbursed funds with our own funding. The devolution funds have to be disbursed timeously to counter inflation.
Generally, devolution funds have greatly improved the socio-economic lives of the remote and marginalised communities.
The transparency in the allocation and disbursement of public funds has ensured democracy in our provinces as it leaves no place and no one behind.
Part of the devolution funds have been used to procure sewer reticulation materials, vibrating roller and construction of a bus terminus ablution facility as depicted in pictures 1, 2 and 3 below/on this and the next page:
Nkayi Rural District Council
The total amount allocated to the province over the last 5 years is ZWL$2,130,913,269.00
| Year | Allocation | Amount Disbursed/Received | Percentage |
| 2019 | ZWL$4,884,000.00 | ZWL$4,884,000.00 | 100% |
| 2020 | ZWL$18,589,000.00 | ZWL$2,500,000.00 | 13% |
| 2021 | ZWL$158,668569.00 | ZWL$40,200,000.00 | 25% |
| 2022 | ZWL$388,144,800.00 | ZWL$280,700,000.00 | 72% |
| 2023 | ZWL$1,560,626,900.00 | ZWL$21,600,000.00 | 1% |
| Total | ZWL$2,130,913,269.00 | ZWL$349,884,000.00 | 16% |
Procurement of capital equipment will go a long way in addressing and speeding up infrastructural development in the district. This will assist in the development of roads, construction of schools and clinics as the council will be able to carry out these projects in-house
Local authorities have been emancipated through devolution projects as they are now able to address motions raised by ward councillors as well as respond to emergencies. For example, Mdengelele Clinic is being constructed in Nkayi North. Upon its completion, focus will shift to Mjena Clinic that is already 10% complete. This has given the local authorities the leverage to uphold human rights, such as the right to access adequate health services, which is a prerequisite for the betterment of society.
In addition, a classroom block was rehabilitated at Sesemba Primary School while the new ambulance has proved to be of significance in capacitating the local authorities as they are now able to quickly respond to emergencies.
In Nkayi District, the marginalised groups are comprised of children, expecting mothers, the elderly, and people with disabilities, among others. The Second Republic, through devolution, has changed the lives of the above-mentioned groups. This is reflected in the infrastructure that has been built by devolution funds such as clinics, which have reduced the burden of travelling long distances to access health care.
The revamping of school blocks means that children can now learn in safe environments. The new blocks also have ramps to cater for learners with disabilities.
Kusile Rural District Council
Kusile Rural District Council has benefited from devolution funds to the extent depicted in the table below:
| YEAR | AMOUNT ALLOCATED | AMOUNT RECEIVED |
| 2019 | Not specified | ZWL$3,996,000.00 |
| 2020 | ZWL$14,969,000.00 | ZWL$6,830,715.00 |
| 2021 | ZWL$149,668,540.17 | ZWL$30,776,570.00 |
| 2022 | ZWL$54,000,000.00 | ZWL$43,700,933.00 |
| 2023 | ZWL$1,324,894,300.00 | ZWL$67,000,000.00 |
Ten classroom blocks have been completed. In addition, 2 institutional water schemes, 8 storm-damaged classroom blocks were repaired and road equipment, that includes 2 x tipper trucks (see picture), 1 x TLB, 1 x tractor and trailer and 8-tonne truck, was purchased.
Two new secondary schools — Tiki and Kwarai — are still under construction. These will benefit students who used to travel more than 25 km to the nearest school.
Considering the infrastructure development that has been implemented from 2019 to date, Lupane District has made enormous strides as the Second Republic has greatly empowered the local authority.
The new classroom block at Mqabuko Primary School
New classroom blocks under construction at Simunyu Primary School (above) and Elihlo Primary School (below)
The Ndimimbili-Lusulu Road is undergoing a major facelift
CAPTION: Council workers pose with some of the 8 tipper trucks purchased with devolution funds
Hwange Local Board
| Hwange Local Board started benefiting from the devolution programmme in 2019, giving a cumulative total of ZWL$ 295,887,137.00 ZWL ove the past 5 years. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| The following are some of the projects funded by devolution funds in Hwange:
· Clinic fence · Clinic water storage tanks · Incinerator · Nechibondo ECD block · Nechibondo ECD block perimeter fencing · Nechibondo ECD block classroom furniture · 10 cubic metre tipper truck · Tractor The local board is currently constructing a flea market equipped with a borehole. |
”A beautiful work of art” are perhaps the most apt words to describe the recently completed Nechibondo ECD block
Harare Province
The devolution agenda was a well thought-out strategy aimed at spreading development to communities and make participation in development convenient and within reach of the people. We are seeing the fruits of this strategy in many ways through the decentralisation of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to provincial and district levels.
Devolution is an ongoing process and so we are looking forward to more being done so that provinces and districts become fully fledged. Local authorities still need to establish local structures or empower those already established so that citizens can articulate and drive their own development agendas through the empowered local structures like district offices.
Harare Metropolitan Province, which is comprised of 4 local authorities – Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Epworth — started benefiting from devolution funds in 2019. Disbursements to date are outlined in the following table:
| Year | Harare | Chitungwiza | Ruwa | Epworth |
|
| 2019 | ZWL$33,427, 867.00 | ZWL$8,945, 000.00 | ZWL$4,940,000.00 | ZWL$7,436,000.00 | |
| 2020 | ZWL$630, 425,912.00 | ZWL$5,364, 587.00 | ZWL$8,236,000.00 | ZWL$7,000,000.00 | |
| 2021 | ZWL$124,549, 454.00 | ZWL$6,084, 729.00 | ZWL$35,482,315.36 | ZWL$4,815,000.00 | |
| 2022 | ZWL$73,259, 190.00 | ZWL$173,513,316.00 | ZWL$61,000,000.00 | ZWL$4,400,000.00 | |
| 2023 | ZWL$122, 600,000.00 | ZWL$43,600, 000.00
(Received 01/03/2023) |
ZWL$21,200,000.00 | ZWL$31,500, 000.00 |
Devolution funds are always disbursed in batches and above are the total amounts received so far from the allocated funds. The outstanding balance for the 4 local authorities is ZWL$17,168,528,000 and we hope it will have been disbursed by the end of the current year.
Upon receiving devolution funds, the 4 local authorities embarked on a number of projects as listed below.
Harare City Council
- Construction of Mabvuku Clinic administration block
- Rehabilitation of Kuwadzana 5 km sewer line
- Crowborough Sewage Treatment Plant (lagoon)
- 4 x refuse compactors purchased
- 1 x front-end loader purchased
- 3 x tipper trucks purchased
- Rehabilitation of Pump Stations 1,2,3 completed at Morton Jaffray Waterworks
- Rehabilitation of collapsed sewer lines (675 mm concrete pipes)
Chitungwiza Municipality
| PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED |
| * 200 mm sewer pipes
* Manhole rings * 25 ward-based borehole drilling Phase 1 |
| · Drilling of 8 Institutional boreholes |
| · Procurement of 2 x refuse trucks, 2 x ambulances and 1 x IT server
· Stormwater drains clearance · Solar motorisation of 8 institutional boreholes with tanks and stands. |
| · Unit C sewer line construction materials for sewerage rehabilitation. |
Ruwa Local Board
| Projects Implemented | % Completion
|
Period Started and completed |
| Refuse Truck
|
100% Complete | 2019 |
| 3 Solarised boreholes
|
100% Complete | 2020 |
| Motorised grader
|
100% Complete | 2020 |
| 5 Megalitre FC reactor — nozzle replacement and resealing | 100% Complete | 2021-22 |
| Electronic variable frequency drives | 100% Complete | 2021-22 |
| Sanga raw water intake and booster pumps transformer replacement & protection | 100% Complete | 2021-22 |
| Road markings on :
Chiremba Road, Chihombe Road, Orange Road & Tarisa Road |
100% | 2022 |
| Valuation Roll | 100% | 2022-23 |
| Zimre Secondary School ablution block ceiling repairs | 100% | 2022 |
Epworth Local Board
| Tractor purchased |
| 14 x boreholes fitted with bush pumps
3 x solar-powered piped water schemes. |
| Public toilets construction (x 2) |
| Munyuki Vegetable Market construction (x 2 sheds)* |
| Solar street lights ( 1st phase — 20 , 2nd phase – 23, 3rd phase – 10 lights*) |
| Skip bin purchase (x4) |
| Road maintenance |
| Mabvazuva Clinic completion (painting, toilets construction, solar back-up system, furniture, paving, fencing)* |
| Council guardroom renovations* |
| Material purchases for borehole repairs (x9) |
| Overspill safe market fencing |
Members of the community played a key role through consultations with their councillors and their interests were taken on-board. Most of the projects that were embarked on between 2019 and 2021 have since been completed.
All the projects that were implemented under devolution changed the lives of ratepayers in more ways than one. Markets, schools, boreholes, roads, and the purchase of plant and equipment all contributed significantly to the transformation of Harare Metropolitan Province.
The devolution agenda has capacitated not only local authority officials but the community at large. MDAs need only to understand and appreciate the agenda so that they give it maximum support by walking the talk.
On the downside, devolution is not moving at the pace we expected because funds are never disbursed in full, but in tranches. Very often, the year comes to an end before the year’s full allocation is received. We have done our bit to resolve this by asking local authorities to plan according to the funds at their disposal and not accumulate debts in anticipation of receiving devolution funds.
With regard to the misappropriation of funds, we have not had such experiences in Harare Metropolitan Province. In the last budget consultations, the Local Government and Public Works Minister clarified areas where such funds were to be utilised as spelt out in Section 301(2) d of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. For instance, devolution funds cannot be used for recurrent expenditure and local authorities were made to understand that.
To ensure that the devolution programme is implemented efficiently and effectively, there is need to raise awareness among the MDAs to enhance their understanding of the concept.
Despite the obvious teething problems, devolution has helped in transforming lives in previously marginalised areas. It’s still work in progress, but MDAs that have decentralised can now be accessed easily. The devolved structures can meet with the people frequently and hear their voices. Clinics built under the Second Republic are fully equipped, thus eliminating the need for patients to seek medical attention outside their boundaries.
In addition, devolution has strengthened local democracy and enhanced allocative efficiency in positive ways. Community development is now locally based although more still needs to be done. Additional district offices have been established, although they need to be capacitated so that ratepayers can have their queries addressed in the vicinity of their homes.
Mashonaland East Province
Devolution has impacted positively on the communities in Mashonaland East Province. Social services have improved due to the advent of devolution. Most communities were travelling long distances to access education and health services, but devolution has seen the construction of new schools and clinics near communities.
Local authorities’ service delivery has also improved. Before devolution, capital budget performance was 3%. It has since gone up to 15%.
Mashonaland East started benefiting from devolution in 2019 and as at 31 December 2022, the province had been allocated ZWL$6,397,693,694.00. However, the province received ZWL$1,684,231,535.00 during that time, with most of the monies being disbursed late.
The devolution funds have been used to construct classroom blocks, science laboratories, clinics, as well as the purchase of capital equipment, installation of water reticulation, street lights and ICT infrastructure. These projects were identified by communities who are consulted at ward level after which they are submitted to the local authority for approval. So far, a total of 88 projects have been completed while over 100 are still ongoing.
Among the projects that have improved the lives of thousands of people in Mashonaland East are Nyaugugu Primary School in Mudzi and Bepeta Clinic in Mutoko. Until devolution came to the rescue, learners at Nyaugugu Primary School had to make do with makeshift classrooms which were not conducive for effective learning. Thanks to the Second Republic, we have managed to construct decent classrooms for the learners.
Before the construction of Bepeta Clinic, patients travelled more than 30 km to the nearest health facility. That is now a thing of the past.
NOTE: PICTURES OF NYAUGUGU PRIMARY SCHOOL AND BEPETA CLINIC TO COME HERE
The Second Republic has made significant strides in empowering and capacitating provincial and local authorities through devolution. Marginalised communities are now benefiting from developments taking place within their localities. In the past, local authorities were hamstrung when it came to purchasing capital equipment such as graders, drilling rigs and other road-making equipment.
However, one of the major challenges we have been facing as a province is that the Treasury has been releasing funds late. This has impacted negatively on the timeous completion of projects.
Funds being released are below 40% of the allocated amounts. Council is failing to complete some of its projects on time. On the other hand, some new budgeted projects have been put on hold as anticipated funds are not forthcoming. In some cases, some local authorities are using their own resources to complete stalled projects.
As Mashonaland East Province, we believe there is need for aggressive stakeholder involvement as some projects are not subjected to the desired community consultations. In addition, the Treasury should disburse funds early and comply with the constitutional provision which requires that at least 5% of collected revenue be distributed to local authorities. There is also an overarching need to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms at all levels.
No doubt, devolution has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Mashonaland East Province. There is tremendous progress in terms of development in marginalised communities where health and education infrastructure was lagging behind before devolution. Communities are now travelling shorter distances to access health and educational services. Roads are now navigable thanks to road equipment purchased using IGFT funds. Communities now have access to safe and clean water from borehole drilling rigs purchased through devolution funds.
Local democracy is being practised widely in the majority of projects although there is need for improvement in stakeholder consultations. This is because some local authorities still believe in a top-down approach when it comes to implementing projects. Allocative efficiency has not yet been achieved in some instances since some projects being undertaken are out of sync with communities’ wishes.
Before the construction of Bepeta Clinic (above), patients travelled more than 30 km to the nearest health facility.
The new Nyaugugu Primary School classroom block. Until devolution came to the rescue, learners had to make do with makeshift classrooms which were not conducive for effective learning.
