Comparative Local Governance Systems 109

Comparative Local Governance Systems 109

Lecturer: T. Masiya

Office hours: Monday - Friday 0800hrs – 1645hrs

Or by appointment

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Office 41: Telone

1.  Local Government

§  What are Local Govenments?

§  Rationale for Local Governments

§  Functions of Local Governments

2.  Decentralisation

§  What is decentralisation?

§  Rationale for decentralisation

§  Implications of decentralisation

§  Decentralisation challenges

3.  Focus areas for the comparative study

4.  Structure of Local Government: Study areas

§  Zimbabwe

§  South Africa

§  Botswana

§  Ghana

§  Uganda

§  Mozambique

5.  Financing Local Governments

§  Legislative Mandate

§  Sources of finance

§  Financial challenges facing local governments

6.  Local Government Management

7.  Centre – Local Relations

8.  Emerging issues

§  Role of Civil Society

§  Service Delivery Challenges

§  Human Resource Challenges

Tutorial Exercises

1.  Outline the general problems affecting local governments in two Southern African countries of your choice.

2.  Using the case of Zimbabwe, and any other country, identify key actors in Local Government and explain their role.

3.  “Decentralisation is any act which a central government formally cedes powers to actors and institutions at lower levels in a political-administrative and territorial hierarchy (Mawhood, 1983)”. Discuss the above assertion with reference to any two countries of your choice.

4.  Outline and discuss the main sources of finance for local authorities in Zimbabwe.

5.  “In a wide range of countries the local government institutions are changing their

organisational set up from a formal and rigid management to a more flexible approach

aimed at better meeting the citizens’ demand. The focus has changed from being a direct

provider of services to being more a facilitator (Metcalf 2002)” Discuss this new approach to local governance.

6.  Discuss the essence of constitutionalising the local government system.

7.  Outline Zimbabwe’s local government structure. Using a country of your choice, discuss how it can be improved.

References

1.  P.S. Reddy (ed), (1999), Local Government Democratisation and Decentralisation: A Review of the Southern African Region, Kenwyn, Juta Co. Ltd

2.  Hillard V.G (1997), Understanding Contemporary Local Government, Pretoria, J.L. Van Schalk.

3.  Mawood P, (1983), Local Government in the Third World: The experience of Tropical Africa, Wiley and Sons.