Delayed Devolution Laws Sideline Provincial Councils, Centralizing Power

The government confirmed that provincial councils will remain sidelined and unable to resume constitutional duties until Parliament passes long-overdue devolution legislation. The delay, reported by DailyNews, leaves local governance structures in legal limbo and centralizes decision-making in Harare. The stalling of devolution laws has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties and civic groups, who argue it entrenches central control and violates the constitution's devolution provisions. Provincial councils, designed to drive local development, now lack the legal authority to function, undermining grassroots governance and service delivery. The paralysis exposes a core vulnerability: the ruling party's reluctance to devolve power risks alienating regions and fueling perceptions of a Harare-centric government that neglects local needs, potentially stoking regional discontent and eroding the party's rural support base.