Abstract
This paper presents a review of several factors which account for the decline of service delivery in urban local authorities within Zimbabwe. The study utilised desk research methodology to explore and analyse relevant data which was in government legislation, ministerial statements, public and private media articles, books and journals to come up with the totality of the environment relating directly or indirectly to the decline of service delivery in local authorities (LAs). The evidence cited is based on findings from identified urban local authorities which include Harare, Chitungwiza, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo and Bulawayo City Councils. Themes surrounding the interference in political affairs and management of LAs, inflated salaries, weak corporate governance, rapid population growth as a result of rural-urban migration, declining investment and support grants, declining revenue bases, poor budgetary processes and poor uptake of e-governance add up to the prominent difficulties within Zimbabwean local authorities which had compromised service delivery. However, emphasis is given on the causal factors emanating from internal policy failures, trailing effects from intra-state conflicts, strained international relations with western countries, contradictory policy frameworks at central and local government level and most significantly, national economic decline. The paper concludes with some recommendations for remedying the situation.
Recommended Citation
Mudyanadzo, Wenceslaus and Nzwatu, Makomborero Y.
(2019)
"Accounting for the Decline of Service Delivery in Urban Local Authorities: A Survey of Zimbabwean Cities and Towns,"
Journal of African Policy Studies: Vol. 25:
No.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/joaps/vol25/iss1/3