Is Devolution a Panacea for Governance Challenges? Views and Perceptions on Zimbabwe's Devolution of Power Debate

Zimbabwe has been experiencing a plethora of socio-economic and political challenges in the post independent era. It has been argued that unequal development that has been experienced is a direct result of poor governance system which concentrates power in the central government. It is in this context that devolution has been put forward as a solution to the current challenges facing the country. Devolution within the confines of this paper refers to the statutory granting of powers from central government to sub-national levels such as provinces, districts or municipalities. The paper seeks to interrogate if indeed devolution is a panacea for governance and developmental challenges that Zimbabwe is currently facing. Employing literature survey, various sources will be consulted and analyzed with the aim of unpacking the devolution concept as well as examining views from countries that have devolved powers to lower spheres of government. The paper is particularly relevant given the currency of the subject in Zimbabwe's constitution making process. Debate has been raging, in the public space on whether the new constitution should give birth to a devolved state in Zimbabwe. The paper will at the end aim to give sound advice on which way Zimbabwe should go on the devolution issue.