Prospects of Implementing Devolution in the Post-Mugabe Era

Abstract

This chapter looks at the constraints and prospects of devolution implementation in Zimbabwe in the Mnangagwa era. Zimbabwe’s quest for devolution in the post-third wave era of democratisation and good governance is evident through ongoing civil society organisations and opposition politics advocacy themes. The desire for devolution saw the light of the day through the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee-led constitution of 2013. Since 2013, significant political events took place that ushered in a second republic in 2017. The purpose of this chapter is to offer a critical analysis of the devolution initiative since 2013 when it became a constitutional obligation. To comprehend the political economy of devolution in Zimbabwe, prevailing literature and authoritative government data is interrogated. The chapter traces devolution in history and looks at the strides made before discussing the current challenges and steps that have been taken post the Mugabe era. It also considers several conceptual issues around devolution before dwelling more fully on policy and legislative issues around devolution in Zimbabwe. In focusing on variations in the scope, form and political dynamics of devolution, the chapter concludes that there are certain important steps taken in the Second Republic though there are also significant stumbling blocks to implementing devolution in Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe. In this light, like other dimensions of Mnangagwa’s formative project, there seems to be a hesitancy to pursue devolution with maximum vigour.