Framework for Enhancing Local Participation for Planning and Devolution in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe calls for devolution as a way to strengthen local governance through transfers of resources and citizen participation, but implementation shows that devolution is superficial and that central control remains strong and citizens are excluded. Incomplete buildings and budget constraints are a problem for local authorities, which have limited ability to effectively meet the needs of grassroots development. This is a qualitative study which examines the way forward for enhancing local participation and devolution in Zimbabwean contexts such as Murewa District, to bridge the gap between policy intentions and implementation. Data were collected using qualitative desktop research of peer-reviewed articles, government reports and grey literature from Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science with the keywords that included devolution, Zimbabwe, challenges, citizen participation and local governance. The study uses textual analysis as a method for data analysis in synthesising empirical findings and theoretical frameworks. The analysis found that there is an absence of a detailed statutory framework, which results in uneven devolution and central dominance; there are incomplete provincial and district structures and the institutional capacity of these structures is weak, limiting local autonomy; and citizen participation is limited due to top-down planning, political manipulation and insufficient fiscal empowerment. The findings suggest that policymakers enact a comprehensive Devolution Act, institutionalise participatory mechanisms and ensure unconditional fiscal transfers to bridge the policy-practice gap. This model offers a roadmap for sustainable local governance, fostering accountability and equitable development across Zimbabwe's rural and urban divides.