Zimbabwe marked 45 years of independence, but the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) isn’t throwing any parties. Instead, they’re calling out the government for hogging all the power and ignoring devolution, despite it being written in the Constitution. Because, you know, independence is all about empowering the people, right?

The government has been accused of failing to deliver basic services, limiting local authority powers, weakening democracy at the local level, and imposing policies like water privatization without citizen participation. CHRA is demanding change, calling on the government to align local government laws with Chapter 14 of the Constitution, increase devolution funding to at least 5% of the national budget, and enact legislation to operationalize elected Provincial Councils. Seriously, how hard is it to follow the Constitution? It’s time for the government to take devolution seriously and give power back to the people.

CHRA claims the government is violating Chapter 14 of the Constitution, which outlines the principles of devolution, and Sections 264 and 276, which guarantee local autonomy and community-led governance. It’s like they’re playing a game of constitutional Jenga, and the people are getting tired of it.

CHRA insists that true independence means giving power back to the people. Communities should be allowed to govern their affairs through democratically elected local representatives, not dictated to by a central authority. As Zimbabwe looks ahead to Vision 2030, it’s time for the government to take devolution seriously and let the people drive their own development. Anything less is just lip service.

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