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Chombo on roles of provincial ministers
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
October 01, 2013

The Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo, on September 26 2013, mapped the role of Provincial Ministers of State at a stakeholders’ interface meeting to allay fears that the new government posts could affect the constitutional provisions for devolution.

“The office of the Minister of State must ensure unison between the national development agenda and the provincial initiatives,” Chombo said. “At the provincial level, the Minister of State must ensure effective synchronization of development efforts and goals.

“All the trunk government programs and other social protection programs must gain momentum through the office of the minister of state for provincial affairs.”

The provincial councils will be responsible for planning, Chombo said, while the Minister of State will report to the President and Cabinet.

“I would expect provincial metropolitan councils to meet, deliberate, share various matters, programs and experiences and expectations in such a way that would enable the Minister of State for provincial affairs to feed into central government through the office of the President and Cabinet,” Chombo said.

“Local authorities constitute the planning authorities in their areas of jurisdiction. Within that context, effective execution of the spatial planning mandate is imperative.”

Following the appointment of the provincial Ministers of State, commentators have expressed doubt that devolution will be effective.

The meeting was attended by residents, the mayor of Harare, the Harare Metropolitan provincial Minister of State, councilors, residents and residents groups such as the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA).

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