Similarities Between Unitary And Federal System Of Government

The modern day constitutional order is characterised by two major systems, the unitary and federal systems. The unitary system of government differs from the federal system in that all political power is embedded, entrenched and implanted in the national government, thus being a good recipe for dictatorship and authoritarianism. Whereas under the federal system political power is shared between the national government and provincial governments. This paper will magnify South African, Ugandan and Zimbabwean systems of government and go at length to discuss the major systems in light of the said countries so as to differentiate and point out similarities if ever they exist.
Unitary System of Government
The Unitary System of Government is a system
Interestingly, it happens that since the constitution came to force it has never been appropriate. Contrary to the concept of Devolution of Power, political authority has been further compressed as the central government has placed provinces under the watch of Provincial Ministers who report to the cabinet. In addition to that exists a Ministry of Local Governments which is empowered to dismiss provincial and local governments. The minister in charge of this ministry is a member of the
Arguments by scholars have been put forth that political contestation over Uganda being a unitary or federal country needs resolution to forestall future political crises . Section 180 of the constitution institutes, local governments who are said to be the highest political authorities in the districts and they have two arms of government the legislative and executive wings. Ordinarily, this qualifies Uganda as using the devolutionary federalism system. Nonetheless, if section 180 is then read together with section 186 and interpreted in context of other provisions of the constitution it becomes a white elephant. Section 186 clearly states that Local Governments can only exercise this power on request and subsequent approval by the central government or when the national legislature puts is place a legislation to empower the Local Authority.
From a historic perspective this system can easily serve as a mentorship program for dictatorship, tyranny and or authoritarianism which ultimately undermines democracy and the principles of constitutionalism. The distance between the government and the citizens becomes too wide, thus creating room for systematic negligence, insufficient protection of human rights and a more theoretical than practical world view. Fortified by these reasons it may be argued