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In conventional participatory paradigm, it is significant to involve citizens in decision- making processes in projects that affect their lives. Citizen participation enhances transparency and legitimacy as well as accountability and... more
In conventional participatory paradigm, it is significant to involve citizens in decision- making processes in projects that affect their lives. Citizen participation enhances transparency and legitimacy as well as accountability and responsiveness from those entrusted with public office. In Zimbabwe, the constitutionalisation of local governance has seen a provision obligating Central Government to support devolution through the provision of financial resources. This article explores opportunities provided by the constitution through an elaborate discussion of devolution rolled out by the Government in Zimbabwe. Practical examples of the implementation of devolution projects in different districts in the country are given. The presentation of financial allocation of devolution funds are evidence of commitment by Government to implement devolution as a community empowerment initiative.Gleanings from available literature concluded that it has been worthwhile to constitutionalise Local Governance in Zimbabwe.
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In recent years, globalisation has seen global civil society institutions at different levels getting involved in politics of nation states. Observance of human rights, good governance and the upholding of democratic principles have been... more
In recent years, globalisation has seen global civil society institutions at different levels getting involved in politics of nation states. Observance of human rights, good governance and the upholding of democratic principles have been areas of emphasis by global civil society where nations of the world have made concerted efforts to uphold these. Zimbabwe has been one of the African countries that have attracted international attention on the above issues of governance. Global, regional and national civil society groups have been instrumental in calling for improved citizen participation in governance processes and repealing some sections of existing legislation guiding citizen participation.
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The concept of citizen participation has come to be loosely associated with democracy through safeguarding the will of the people. While the two concepts share much in common, there has been a trend in Africa, where disputed electoral... more
The concept of citizen participation has come to be loosely associated with democracy through safeguarding the will of the people. While the two concepts share much in common, there has been a trend in Africa, where disputed electoral results are settled through the institution of Government of National Unity [GNUs] formations, mostly popularised by incumbent political leaders who are reluctant to accept electoral defeat. This has led to situations where political opponents are compelled to co-exist in government while at the same time creating apathy and despondency among the electorate who feel short changed by the disregard for their will and the imposition of leaders who should have exited from the leadership positions in government through electoral defeat. Thus, it can be argued that, elections have become a smokescreen used by politicians to cling to power by claiming legitimacy from the electorate.
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The SADC Treaty sought to, among other things; enhance regional integration within the SADC region. The eventual thrust has been on coming up with a common market, common monetary union and a common currency that would facilitate trade... more
The SADC Treaty sought to, among other things; enhance regional integration within the SADC region. The eventual thrust has been on coming up with a common market, common monetary union and a common currency that would facilitate trade within the region. Equally important has been the desire to form a bulwark against stronger economies from other regional groupings. On the other hand, while SACU has harboured the desire to facilitate the establishment and operationalisation of a customs union within the Southern African region. It has been argued that such a development cannot avoid the need for a common currency, common market as well as a monetary union to counter the strong trade current coming from other regional groupings, such as the East African Community, taking cognisance of the meteoric economic rise of Kenya as well as the post-genocide economic reform of Rwanda.This paper examines the history of regional integration in Africa, what has motivated it, the different initiat...
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This book encompasses procedures and processes involved in the incorporation of technology within the education discourse.It is a book for both early adopters of ICTs and practitioners as it unravels how e-tools can be employed for... more
This book encompasses procedures and processes involved in the incorporation of technology within the education discourse.It is a book for both early adopters of ICTs and practitioners as it unravels how e-tools can be employed for teaching and learning purposes.It is a book that students mostly in tertiary institutions would find both rewarding, encompassing and engaging. Institutions would find the book of importance when introducing varied pedagogical aspects that would be of beneficial significance to academic staff
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Zimbabwe and Malawi, while sharing a common historical background, have presented divergent political and socio-economic attributes. However, despite the two countries having shared the platform during the Federation of Rhodesia and... more
Zimbabwe and Malawi, while sharing a common historical background, have presented divergent political and socio-economic attributes. However, despite the two countries having shared the platform during the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland between 1953 and 1963, the attainment of political independence for each of these countries paved the way for the political nuances that prevailed in the post-colonial era. Democratic practice has been presented in each of these countries by the way they held and continue to hold elections. Electoral institutions and the attendant electoral management bodies in the two countries have shaped the politics of the two countries. The role of civil society has in the electoral processes in each of the two countries have also helped to shed light on the restrictiveness and/or transparency of the polls in each of the countries. This paper deliberates on the electoral intricacies that have obtained in each of the two countries.
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Research Interests:
Residents associations are a local initiative by residents within a specific community. Through residents associations, citizens have been able to keep local authorities in check and to demand accountability. With the economic crises... more
Residents associations are a local initiative by residents within a specific community. Through residents associations, citizens have been able to keep local authorities in check and to demand accountability. With the economic crises facing many countries across the globe and the world recession setting in, as well as the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe over the last few years, which was exacerbated by a hyperinflationary environment, local authorities have had to contend with shortages of resources to dispense services to local communities. This has increased restiveness on the part of residents. The article eclectically draws from the mobilisation theory whose premise is that a disgruntled citizenry is easy to mobilise. The study of the Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA) has shown that residents' associations are a conduit through which residents can demand accountability and participatory spaces in promoting good local governance. This article seeks to explore th...
Research Interests:
Residents associations are a local initiative by residents within a specific community. Through residents associations, citizens have been able to keep local authorities in check and to demand accountability. With the economic crises... more
Residents associations are a local initiative by residents within a specific community. Through residents associations, citizens have been able to keep local authorities in check and to demand accountability. With the economic crises facing many countries across the globe and the world recession setting in, as well as the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe over the last few years, which was exacerbated by a hyperinflationary environment, local authorities have had to contend with shortages of resources to dispense services to local communities. This has increased restiveness on the part of residents. The article eclectically draws from the mobilisation theory whose premise is that a disgruntled citizenry is easy to mobilise. The study of the Combined Harare Residents ’ Association (CHRA) has shown that residents ’ associations are a conduit through which residents can demand accountability and participatory spaces in promoting good local governance. This article seeks to explore the exte...
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Research Interests:
Corruption knows no bounds and manifests itself in both public and private spaces. The endemic nature of corruption tends to make it a common phenomenon both in the public and private sectors and have a negative impact on the existing... more
Corruption knows no bounds and manifests itself in both public and private spaces. The endemic nature of corruption tends to make it a common phenomenon both in the public and private sectors and have a negative impact on the existing democratic governance processes and economic growth. Corruption has numerous dimensions and manifestations all of which erode the social, political and economic fabric of the political society. This paper provides a working definition of corruption and discusses the different types and manifestations of corruption and the overall impact of corruption on democracy, governance and civil society. The paper also challenges investigations of corruption in general. The paper concludes that endemic corruption stalls economic growth, debilitate democratic practices with a likelihood of a degeneration of democratic governance to despotism and authoritarianism.
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events that have prevailed in Zimbabwe since 1980 have presented challenges for democracy, giving birth to a chequered electoral history. Successive electoral contests have produced contested results and this has been attributed to the... more
events that have prevailed in Zimbabwe since 1980 have presented challenges for democracy, giving birth to a chequered electoral history. Successive electoral contests have produced contested results and this has been attributed to the defective electoral legislation. Successive constitutional amendments and the enactment of the attendant legislation guiding civil society participation in governance processes have also contributed to the inability of the voice of the people from being heard. The inheritance of colonial legislation tended to harden the stance of the leadership. Despite the fact that the SADC, and the AU, have facilitated the enactment of guidelines to enable free and fair electoral processes, this has not been binding on member states, leaving states to conduct elections under own conditions. In some cases, violence has characterized elections in Zimbabwe. The new Constitution in Zimbabwe has not helped improve the way elections have been held, as well as the authori...
Research Interests: Violence, Elections, Zimbabwe, Legislation, Key words, and 4 moreConstitution, Contestation, Colonial, and Violation
History has shown that it is customary for the long-time ruling party, ZANU PF, to conjure economic blueprints, with the current Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimASSET) being the latest in a string of... more
History has shown that it is customary for the long-time ruling party, ZANU PF, to conjure economic blueprints, with the current Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimASSET) being the latest in a string of similar adventures. This article provides a critical analysis of a cocktail of piece-meal economic policies prior to ZimAsset, including the disreputable Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act of 2008 which was meant to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), but ended up scaring away potential investors.1 It argues that given that ZimAsset’s implementation is premised on the availability of financial resources, which the country does not have and that FDI is not trickling in, it is bound to fail. Keywords: Economic policy, ZimAsset, ZANU PF, Foreign Direct Investment, Plethora Professor, Bindura University E-mail: mapuva@gmail.com
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Corruption knows no bounds and manifests itself in both public and private spaces. The endemic nature of corruption tends to make it a common phenomenon both in the public and private sectors and have a negative impact on the existing... more
Corruption knows no bounds and manifests itself in both public and private spaces. The endemic nature of corruption tends to make it a common phenomenon both in the public and private sectors and have a negative impact on the existing democratic governance processes and economic growth. Corruption has numerous dimensions and manifestations all of which erode the social, political and economic fabric of the political society. This paper provides a working definition of corruption and discusses the different types and manifestations of corruption and the overall impact of corruption on democracy, governance and civil society. The paper also challenges investigations of corruption in general. The paper concludes that endemic corruption stalls economic growth, debilitate democratic practices with a likelihood of a degeneration of democratic governance to despotism and authoritarianism.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The SADC Treaty sought to, among other things; enhance regional integration within the SADC region. The eventual thrust has been on coming up with a common market, common monetary union and a common currency that would facilitate trade... more
The SADC Treaty sought to, among other things; enhance regional integration within the SADC region. The eventual thrust has been on coming up with a common market, common monetary union and a common currency that would facilitate trade within the region. Equally important has been the desire to form a bulwark against stronger economies from other regional groupings. On the other hand, while SACU has harboured the desire to facilitate the establishment and operationalisation of a customs union within the Southern African region. It has been argued that such a development cannot avoid the need for a common currency, common market as well as a monetary union to counter the strong trade current coming from other regional groupings, such as the East African Community, taking cognisance of the meteoric economic rise of Kenya as well as the post-genocide economic reform of Rwanda.This paper examines the history of regional integration in Africa, what has motivated it, the different initiat...
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Rural development hinges on the dictates of the growth poles theory. Francois Perroux introduced the idea of economic Growth Poles in 1949 whose central notion is based on the concept of abstract economic space. The theory argues that... more
Rural development hinges on the dictates of the growth poles theory. Francois Perroux introduced the idea of economic Growth Poles in 1949 whose central notion is based on the concept of abstract economic space. The theory argues that decentralization of activities from the centre to the periphery enables the general populace to access services and opportunities better and helps to curtail migration to the centre. In line with the dictates of the growth poles theory, Zimbabwe in 1980 established growth points which helped in the curtailment of rural-urban migration through the decentralization of services to rural areas and the creation of employment opportunities for the rural folk. This paper deliberates on the practicalities and challenges of implementing the growth poles theory and the theory impacted on rural development in Zimbabwe, on the backdrop of skewed rural development policies and economic malaise. The author suggests that political will and a stable economic environme...
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Political contestation through elections is a vital tenet of democracy. In elections, the electorate seek to choose political leaders in line with international best practice. The disputed elections in Kenya (2007) and Zimbabwe (2008) had... more
Political contestation through elections is a vital tenet of democracy. In elections, the electorate seek to choose political leaders in line with international best practice. The disputed elections in Kenya (2007) and Zimbabwe (2008) had the propensity to degenerate into ethnic civil war and political acrimony respectively. It took mediation efforts of Koffi Annan and Mr Thabo Mbeki to cobble up ruling coalitions to govern each of the countries respectively. The paper deliberates on the fact that the transitional arrangements were a temporary reprieve to curtail violence, for political players to re-group and to make time to cool political temperatures. However, such arrangements pitted political foes into one government though the chances of fostering complete unison were evidently very remote. The paper argues that the outcome of the post-GNU dispensation in the two countries is rooted in the preponderance of the incumbency in which the major political players took advantage of t...
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ICTs have brought benefits to business as well as to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), where an unprecedented demand for tertiary education has seen students enrolling for courses, some doing so through distance education. This has... more
ICTs have brought benefits to business as well as to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), where an unprecedented demand for tertiary education has seen students enrolling for courses, some doing so through distance education. This has made the internet a very significant and indispensable teaching/learning, communication, and marketing tool for information dissemination for both education purposes and business transactions. The Internet possesses the propensity to change not only the way society retains and accesses knowledge but also to transform and restructure traditional models of higher education, particularly the delivery and interaction in and with course materials and associated resources. Universities have been faced with the daunting task of having to grapple with the inevitable change by re-adjusting and re-organising themselves in preparation for the incorporation of e-learning within their institutions. Institutional leaders have also been faced with the challenge of h...
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Activism has been most prevalent in Zimbabwe, especially towards 1990s when the country faced democratic decay. This gave rise to an unprecedented emergence of pro-democracy civil society organisations in the country, among such social... more
Activism has been most prevalent in Zimbabwe, especially towards 1990s when the country faced democratic decay. This gave rise to an unprecedented emergence of pro-democracy civil society organisations in the country, among such social movements, one of which was the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) whose major thrust was engagement in the constitutional reform debate. This was on the backdrop of an increasingly despotic state, which sought to water down the efforts of the NCA in campaigning for the writing of a new national constitution for the country. A social movement by definition involves the metamorphosis of a civic group from its formation up to the time when it achieves its objective (s) and either changes course or fizzles out into oblivion. For the NCA, this paper seeks to show the various metamorphic stages up to the time when a new constitution was written and the organisations transformed into a political party. Keywords: Zimbabwe, Social Movement, Constitution, ...
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This paper explores the socio-economic impact of small-scale gold mining on deprived local communities in theWozoli community.Causal and push factors such as drought and lack of formal employment have been identified as the most... more
This paper explores the socio-economic impact of small-scale gold mining on deprived local communities in theWozoli community.Causal and push factors such as drought and lack of formal employment have been identified as the most determining factors that drive communities to informal small scale gold mining. Cluster sampling of 5mines and the attendant working groups/syndicates were employed provide feasibility and practicality to the data collection process. While snowball sampling was used to identify mining sites.Data were collected through questionnaires to miners in 5 selected mines, field observation and interviews were held with stakeholders and community leadership. The results of the study revealed that small-scale gold mining has transformed the socio-economic situation of Wozoli community in Silobela (Kwekwe). The sector has promoted direct and indirect employment, agglomeration of economic activities in the community and its finances diversified livelihoods. However, the ...
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This paper reviews remedial measures taken to achieve the objectives of rural development in the post-independence Zimbabwe. The research looks at colonial legislative and how it hindered development in rural communities. Colonial state... more
This paper reviews remedial measures taken to achieve the objectives of rural development in the post-independence Zimbabwe. The research looks at colonial legislative and how it hindered development in rural communities. Colonial state undertook some legislative measures concerning land management that disadvantaged Africans. The black community becomes disempowered, disenfranchised and landless. Land polices alienated indigenous people and created livelihood insecurity. This desktop research collected data from published and unpublished literature. The paper identifies a number of policies implemented after 1980 and examines their impacts in enhancing food security, employment and growth in rural areas of Zimbabwe. The aim of these policies is to correct imbalances created by white settlers and inject economic empowerment in rural communities. In particular, the review claims that rural communities are impacted. Whilst these policies are attempts to bring the long awaited rural de...
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The experiences of participatory budgeting on the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe is widely discussed and acknowledged, yet there is paucity of literature of the interface between the two variables. This study therefore... more
The experiences of participatory budgeting on the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe is widely discussed and acknowledged, yet there is paucity of literature of the interface between the two variables. This study therefore seeks to examine how Chitungwiza Municipality has interfaced with Residents and Stakeholders in the participatory budgeting processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using informant interviews, non-participant observation, focus group discussions and analytical desk research, the paper argues that COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns has become the most recent threat to the practice of local democracy, particularly to those local government institutions that largely rely more on physical meetings as engaging platforms for participatory budgeting. The study prescribes policy recommendations to improve urban participatory governance within the context of COVID-19 pandemic situation.
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A good local resource base can benefit local communities as people are able to exploit available natural resources to their advantage. The astronomically high unemployment levels in the country have exacerbated the attendant poverty... more
A good local resource base can benefit local communities as people are able to exploit available natural resources to their advantage. The astronomically high unemployment levels in the country have exacerbated the attendant poverty levels, which has led to local communities seeking alternative survival strategies. In the case of Nyamuzuwe, the local community has embarked on the exploitation of black granite quarry to irk out a living. However, it has been noted that the local community has derived socio-economic benefits from the quarrying venture, while on the other hand, the quarrying activity has taken its toll on the local environment. Consequently, the paper examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of black granite quarrying on local communities in the community of Mutoko District. A total of 185 respondents were selected through random sampling and data was collected through questionnaires. Additionally, focus group discussions and interviews were conducted to...
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Recent literature on women and gender has sought to highlight the rising virtue against the violation of women’s rights on the backdrop of a dominantly patriarchal society. Given the increasing global recognition and efforts to uphold the... more
Recent literature on women and gender has sought to highlight the rising virtue against the violation of women’s rights on the backdrop of a dominantly patriarchal society. Given the increasing global recognition and efforts to uphold the status of women, international instruments and legislation have been incorporated into the arguments that support the recognition of women’s rights in every facet of social, economic and political life. This has given rise to a plethora of feminist civil society organisations seeking to influence policy decisions at international, regional and national levels. In Zimbabwe, the role played by women in the liberation struggle as well as in the post-colonial dispensation has justified the need for the upliftment of the status of women in society. Engagement with authorities to address the rights of women and children has been at the epi-centre of the feminist discourse in Zimbabwe. Through such feminist civil groups in Zimbabwe such as the Women of Zi...
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While different regional economic communities (RECs) have sought to grapple with economic and political challenges within their areas of jurisdiction, those of the SAD have been conspicuous in that they are many and varied. These... more
While different regional economic communities (RECs) have sought to grapple with economic and political challenges within their areas of jurisdiction, those of the SAD have been conspicuous in that they are many and varied. These challenges have negatively impacted on the region’s propensity to provide economic benefits to the people of the region, unlike other groupings with have identified ways of dealing with their challenges. Among the most prevalent challenge to SADC’s economic development has been the low gross domestic product (GDP) that has characterized the region’s economic standing. Most importantly, the different challenges in the SAD have equally impacted on the region’s economic integration, although the conditions created by the region’s members’ small economies would have been ideal for regional economic integration and development.
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Democratisation process in Africa has been under increasing threat from despotic political leaders who have failed to contend with the sweeping forces of globalisation demanding for the opening up of political space. Armed with claims of... more
Democratisation process in Africa has been under increasing threat from despotic political leaders who have failed to contend with the sweeping forces of globalisation demanding for the opening up of political space. Armed with claims of the liberation struggle, most of them failed to provide for their people with many incidences of high poverty levels, and high illiteracy rates among the grassroots people. A strong prodemocracy wind that has swept across the continent has been viewed with suspicion by most African leaders who perceive it as Western attempts at neo-colonialism. This has further compromised the relationship between the state and civil society as governments have accused civil society of being conduit to destabilise African countries. The continued existence of ex-dictators in active politics or in influential positions in many African countries, have remained a threat to the restoration or deepening of democratic institutions within the African continent.
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Technology and the employment of etools within the education domain have brought about unprecedented impact on educational deliverables and deliverances. Teaching and learning have equally been enhanced. Learning theorists have suggested... more
Technology and the employment of etools within the education domain have brought about unprecedented impact on educational deliverables and deliverances. Teaching and learning have equally been enhanced. Learning theorists have suggested tool-use has contributed to the evolution of human language and cognitive development (Wertsch, 1985).Tool-use extends our sense of selfidentity, social identity, and our experiences of social relationships within particular places. Education professionals use specific kinds of technologies (analogue and digital) and are influenced by particular characteristics of the technologies they use (Watson, 2001). Our social and cultural understanding of tools and complex digital technologies affect our ability to use them for learning (Pierson, 2001). The context and conditions of these understandings affect how we know when, where, and why ICT belongs in our educational practices. A number of advantages of using blogs, wikis and podcasts have been identifi...
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The appointment of special interest councillors in urban councils has courted a lot of controversy as this has been viewed as a political ploy by ZANU PF to counter the MDC-run councils. Both political and official views have been... more
The appointment of special interest councillors in urban councils has courted a lot of controversy as this has been viewed as a political ploy by ZANU PF to counter the MDC-run councils. Both political and official views have been accorded to the appointment of ‘special interest councillors. The arbitrary powers of the Minister of Local Government Rural and Urban development (MLGRUD) has incurred the wrath of the public who view these legislative powers as being used to gain political mileage by ZANU PF party as well as a vindictive measure against residents for failing to vote for ZANU PF in Local Government elections, among other electoral processes. In this paper a normative legislative framework involving international, regional instruments as well as national legislation is used to determine the extent to which the legislation and practice of appointing ‘special interest’ councillors in terms of section 4 A of the Urban Councils Act (2008) complies and resonates with democrati...
Generally, NGO intervention have sought to addressing humanitarian gaps through various livelihood intervention programmes. This paper focuses on the interventions of the selected NGOs in ward 22 of Bikita District. Both qualitative and... more
Generally, NGO intervention have sought to addressing humanitarian gaps through various livelihood intervention programmes. This paper focuses on the interventions of the selected NGOs in ward 22 of Bikita District. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to gather data. Major livelihood interventions included conservation farming, agriculture extension and training, small grain production, asset creation, vegetable gardens and food assistance. The research findings revealed that the livelihoods of the beneficiaries were enhanced through improved access to food, employment opportunities, increased yields, and increased access to water for livestock and small irrigations. Against this, the research confirmed that the interventions have not fully addressed livelihood challenges of many people in ward 22 owing to climatic variability. High rates of evaporation, premature farming seasons and drought have compromised the effectiveness of the interventions. The resear...
Residents associations are a local initiative by residents within a specific community. Through residents associations, citizens have been able to keep local authorities in check and to demand accountability. With the economic crises... more
Residents associations are a local initiative by residents within a specific community. Through residents associations, citizens have been able to keep local authorities in check and to demand accountability. With the economic crises facing many countries across the globe and the world recession setting in, as well as the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe over the last few years, which was exacerbated by a hyperinflationary environment, local authorities have had to contend with shortages of resources to dispense services to local communities. This has increased restiveness on the part of residents. The article eclectically draws from the mobilisation theory whose premise is that a disgruntled citizenry is easy to mobilise. The study of the Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) has shown that residents’ associations are a conduit through which residents can demand accountability and participatory spaces in promoting good local governance. This article seeks to explore the extent...
Local governance and urban development are fraught with challenges ranging from poor service delivery, inadequate stakeholder participation to skewed implementation of urban planning policies. The root cause of these challenges emanate... more
Local governance and urban development are fraught with challenges ranging from poor service delivery, inadequate stakeholder participation to skewed implementation of urban planning policies. The root cause of these challenges emanate from poor and uninformed planning by urban planners. Town planners need to appropriately determine the type of urban development approaches to be executed.. A critique of different urban development approaches is given and a determination made to see which of these best suited for integrated and sustainable urban planning and development. The paper recommends the vital significance of stakeholder participation, crafting of an enabling regulatory framework as well as education and training for local government personnel. Keywords: Urban Panning; Sustainable development; Service delivery; managerialism; New Public Management; Integrated Development Management; Stakeholder participation