The implications of vertically divided authority on the performance of urban councils in Zimbabwe: The case of Harare City Council.

Abstract

The issue of VDA is a topical and highly debated topic in Africa and the world over. In Zimbabwe it emerged from the early 2000s period as a result of a strong opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which dominated urban councils and threatened the ruling party Zimbabwe National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) stronghold. This triggered the researcher to adopt qualitative research methods on the implications of VDA on operations of HCC. The study discovered that VDA has negative implications on operations of local authorities. This has created a cat and mouse relationship where the central government is tightly controlling the HCC leaving no room for innovation. In some instances it was discovered the central government is recentralising some functions that were previously allocated to local authorities for example vehicle licensing. It follows that the parent ministry has been using various strategies of subversion that include fiscal controls, central directives, legislation, senior appointments and sabotage of HCC operations resulting in poor performance of the council. The study concluded that VDA has resulted in HCC enjoying a relatively low level of autonomy in its operations which has adversely affected its operations. Against this background the study recommends the alignment of the Constitution to the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29: 15 (UCA), effectively devolve powers to local authorities and create an institution that coordinates the parent ministry and local authorities in Zimbabwe to improve centre-local relations