by Tawanda Musariri

Zimbabwe's civil society expanse is singing the same chorus in support of devolution. The consensus message was communicated during a meeting of civil society organisations and churches in Harare on Monday where presenters representing Zimbabwe's 10 provinces exchanged progressive ideas ahead of the full implementation of the decentralised form of Government.

The Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum (CCJF) brought together leaders of civil society and churches under one roof to dialogue on progressive ways through which devolution can be implemented to benefit local communities. Notable names attending the gathering included Zimbabwe Peace Project Coordinator Jestina Mukoko, MDCT spokesperson Linda Masarira, war veteran Max Mkandla and controversial Kariba cleric Pastor Phillip Mugadza.

Already, Government has established provincial committees to be headed by provincial ministers of state to steer localised development models.

Devolution is allowed for in Zimbabwe under the new 2013 Constitution.

Presenters took turns to market opportunities available in their respective provinces. Common in their deliberations was that devolution was a long overdue development model that should be implemented with haste.

CCJF spokesperson and losing MDCT parliamentary candidate for Dangamvura Constituency, Mutare, Lynette Mudehwe said citizens were part of the solution to problems afflicting Zimbabwe. She said citizens had a patriotic duty to complement political leaders in the development agenda.

Pastor Mugadza decried the land baron menace that he said was afflicting the resort town of Kariba. He also implored responsible offices to invest efforts in limiting human-wildlife conflicts in settlements that straddle wildlife areas like Kariba. Game roams freely into Kariba settlements and occasionally gets into conflict with people, sometimes with human fatalities.

Mugadza said with devolution, localised solutions could be designed to eliminate problems afflicting their communities.

Speaking on behalf of Midlands Province Civil Society, Progress Mutanduri said, "Civil Society Organisations need to rebrand themselves and remodel their work ethic from being opponents of Government and play responsible, collaborative and non hostile roles in national development alongside Government and political leaders.

Speaking for Masvingo Province, Gilbert Sibanda said Masvingo residents must have a hand in the exploitation of resources in their midst.

"We the people of Masvingo want to have greater say in the economic activity surrounding Tokwe Mukosi Dam. It’s not befitting to see outsiders benefitting before locals do," said Sibanda.

Devolution has become a consensus station, an uncommon feature in a polarised political environment where political parties had developed a culture of opposing ideas of the opposite political party just for the sake of differing.

The arrival of the New Dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa came carrying political tolerance which gave birth to open agreement and disagreement for the common good. The 2018 Harmonized elections saw a record 55 political parties freely contesting for power without hindrance or fear.

The indaba was held under the theme, "Redefining people's struggles beyond the political curtains."Programme Coordinator, MDC Alliance losing candidate for Zvimba East, Mugari Fidelis Zvidzai said citizens must put their elected representatives to task in order to see promises made during campaigning coming to fruition. He said failure to challenge politicians only because they belonged to one's political party was unwise as it led to mediocre service delivery. He chastised his own party saying, "We always hear lies from MDC that once we get in power we will fix things. They are already in power, they control local authorities. What have we; we have cholera," receiving thunderous applause from the house.