Abstract: This article examines decentralisation in Zimbabwe. Decentralisation is the transfer of power from a central authority to the lower levels of government. This transfer of power can be done by the government on behalf of the state as a whole or by offices within larger organizations. The article traces the historical evolution of decentralization in Zimbabwe and finds that the terrain is marked by three phases that is, the colonial, post-colonial and constitutional periods. In the colonial phase (1890-1979), decentralization was characterized by a two-tier local governance system divided along racial lines, with the white minority benefiting more than the black majority.