JOHANNESBURG Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa and the United Kingdom have called for devolution of powers and the slashing of provinces by more than half in submissions to the Constitutional Select Committee that is leading the drafting of a new charter for Zimbabwe.
The proposals by the exiles some which eco the views of the opposition ZAPU party and the two MDC formations appear tilted towards whittling down the powers of central government that many people in some parts of the country especially the southwestern regions blame for not sharing the national care equitably.
Led by the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF), the immigrants also called for the new charter to have clauses firmly guaranteeing basic freedoms seriously eroded through a series of amendments to the present Constitution that were made by President Robert Mugabe and his previous Zanu (PF) government.
They also propose the extension of official language status to Venda, Nambya, Shangaan, Kalanga, Sotho, Chewa, Tonga which are all spoken in parts of Zimbabwe but are not officially recognised. Presently only English, Shona and Ndebele are recognised as official languages. The five provinces proposed by the exiles are Manicaland, Mashonaland, Masvingo, Matebeleland and Midlands
According to the proposals, the three tiers of government should be national government, provincial government headed by an elected provincial governor, and local authorities – urban councils to manage the affairs of people in urban areas; and rural councils- to represent and manage the affairs of people in rural areas within the districts into which the provinces are divided.
Other proposals such as the need for a lean government, powerful parliament and whittling down of presidential powers mirror suggestions made by Zimbabweans across the country during the constitutional outreach programme.
Post published in: News