Government, local authorities discuss Provincial, Metropolitan Councils Bill

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

Cabinet Ministers, Provincial Ministers and local authorities met in Harare last week at a workshop convened to discuss the Provincial and Metropolitan Councils Administration Bill.

Present at the meeting held on Thursday were  Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, Provincial Ministers from the country’s 10 provinces and representatives of local authorities.

In an interview on the second day of the workshop, Minister Ziyambi explained that the motivation behind the gathering was the need to address several pressing issues before formulating a comprehensive Cabinet committee or legislative proposal for Cabinet consideration. “We identified numerous issues that required discussion, and we felt it was essential to seek guidance from Cabinet. Hence, we have tasked the Office of the President and Cabinet to lead this process, refine the issues, and prepare them for Cabinet’s consideration,” he said.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi

Minister Ziyambi emphasised the significance of the Provincial and Metropolitan Councils Administration Bill, stating, “We need clarity on the nature and roles of different tiers of Government, as well as the policy direction our principals expect us to follow in developing this Bill.”

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe added that the Constitution provides for the establishment of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils through the devolution programme. “Cabinet advises on directives from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Provincial Ministers to create a Bill for examination and presentation to Cabinet, and subsequently to Parliament,” he explained.

Minister Garwe noted that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works prepared the draft Bill in consultation with various stakeholders.

“Today, we engaged in detailed discussions regarding the Bill under the Cabinet Committee on legislation,” he said. “Numerous issues were raised concerning the specific functions of Provincial Councils relative to existing structures from other Ministries.”

He highlighted the complexity of governance, indicating that every Ministry has a provincial structure that interacts with the Ministry of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

“We recognised significant gaps in the Bill, prompting the chairman to direct the creation of a committee to address these grey areas. The Ministry of Local Government will prepare a paper to submit to the Cabinet committee on legislation for further discussion,” he added.

The committee, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, the Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney General’s Office, will be chaired by one of the deputy chief secretaries from the Office of the President, Mr Willard Manungo.

Minister Garwe underscored the benefits of the proposed changes, stating, “This will expedite decision-making at provincial and district levels, ultimately reaching down to village levels. Resources will be allocated efficiently within specific jurisdictions and provinces. Devolution represents a significant shift, and the President has urged us Ministers to ensure that this Bill is activated and processed swiftly.”

“We have already initiated devolution programmes in the provinces and district councils, but the President wants the law to be enacted without delay,” he concluded.