Civic society organizations (CSOs) yesterday petitioned the Parliament of Zimbabwe for its failure to realign the local government laws.
By Philemon Jambaya
Addressing members of the Press in the capital, Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) Director Mr. Philip Pasirayi said that CSOs have decided to put pressure to the legislators to address the issue of realignment of the law.
“We as the Civic Society Organizations we have petitioned the parliament over the lack of political will to re align the constitution especially the local government laws,” said Pasirai.
Pasirai also said that Section 264(1) is clear about devolution.
“The laws need to be devolved in governance, as enshrined in the constitution .This is outlined in Section 264 (1) of the constitution, which states that:
“Whenever appropriate, governmental powers and responsibilities must be devolved to provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities that are competent to carry out those responsibilities efficiently and effectively,” said Pasirai.
Questioned about the timeline for the parliament to respond to the petition, Precious Shumba who is the Director for Harare Residents Trust (HRT) said that the time is overdue.
“We didn’t give them a time line but what we know is the time is overdue since the President assented to the constitution in 2013, hence so we believe that parliament should respond as early as yesterday” Said Shumba.
Former Member of Parliament for St Mary’s constituency Marvelous Khumalo, who is also the Director of Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) said that parliament should play an oversight role to make sure that the laws are re aligned.
“It is the duty of the parliament to make sure that these laws are re aligned, it is not only the local government laws which need to be re aligned but we also have other issues which need to be dealt with like issues to with devolution of power”
