Section 270: Functions of provincial and metropolitan councils
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) A provincial or metropolitan council is responsible for the social and economic development of its province, including—
(a) planning and implementing social and economic development activities in its
province;
(b) co-ordinating and implementing governmental programmes in its province;
(c) planning and implementing measures for the conservation, improvement and
management of natural resources in its province;
(d) promoting tourism in its province, and developing facilities for that purpose;
(e) monitoring and evaluating the use of resources in its province; and
(f) exercising any other functions, including legislative functions, that may be conferred
or imposed on it by or under an Act of Parliament.
(2) An Act of Parliament must provide for the establishment, structure and staff of provincial and metropolitan councils, and the manner in which they exercise their functions.
(3) Members of a provincial or metropolitan council are accountable, collectively and individually, to residents of their province and the national government for the exercise of their functions.
Key Insight: Provincial Governance Decentralization
This section establishes a decentralized governance structure where provincial and metropolitan councils have significant autonomy in local development. The constitution creates a two-tier accountability system—councils must answer both to local residents and the national government. While the councils have broad developmental powers, their actual authority depends on implementing legislation from Parliament, which determines their practical structure and operational capacity.