Governments in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region have been urged to decentralize power as a development mechanism.
Speaking at the 2014 SADC people’s summit scores of people from different organisations across the region pinned their hopes on decentralization as a key to development.
“The region is pregnant with resources but the resources are being placed in the hands of a few at the expense of the ordinary people.
“The rights of the minority are fringed, their rights are taken away and they are left with nothing. Once power is decentralized communities will significantly develop,” said Esau Ncube of Uluntu Trust Zimbabwe.
He went on to point that if not properly distributed resources will lead to civil wars.
Butler Tambo, of Bulawayo Agenda echoed the above sentiments when he said that citizens should enjoy resources where they stay.
“The amount of gas in Lupane (Zimbabwe) is sufficient enough to sustain Zimbabwe for many years yet people in the area are facing high power cuts on a daily basis,” revealed Tambo.
Wandile Dludlu of the Swaziland United Development Front, also called on the plenary to support the decentralization of government in Swaziland.
“ We urge you to dialogue on the decentralization of power in Swaziland as it will curb the skyrocketing levels of unemployment, “said Dludlu
The San Development Trust also called for the recognition of minority groups as a development initiative.
“The Zimbabwean government has dismally failed to recognize any specific group as indigenous to the country, maintaining instead that all citizens of the country are indeginous”, said Davy Ndlovu adding that this hinders community development