Fiscal autonomy of urban councils in Zimbabwe: A critical analysis

Abstract

Government (2008) at 8. 4 IDAZIM Local governance in transition: Zimbabwe's local authorities during the inclusive government (2010). 5 Bland "Zimbabwe in transition: What about the local level" (2010) at 8. 6 Legislation in Zimbabwe, except for subsidiary legislation such as statutory instruments and regulations, is identified by way of chapters and classified in accordance with the subject matter. In this regard, the Urban Councils Act is referred to as Vol. 15 of Chapter 29. FISCAL AUTONOMY OF URBAN COUNCILS IN ZIMBABWE Page | 3 recommendations which will hopefully foster debate about local fiscal autonomy in the context of the constitution-making process that is currently underway.

Urban Local Government Service Delivery in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe

“…In Zimbabwe, the urban local authorities are divided into the following 30 administrative units: (a) 2 metropolitan cities, (b) 10 municipalities, (c) 8 town councils, (d) 6 city councils, and (e) 4 local boards. They are classified hierarchically in ascending order as follows: local boards, town councils, municipalities, and cities (Marumahoko and Fessha 2011). All urban councils, including local boards and town councils which are inferior councils in the hierarchy of urban local governments, have a statutory requirement to deliver the 54 service functions outlined in the Second Schedule of the Zimbabwe Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).…”

“…The deterioration in service delivery was attributed to the fact that subnational urban councils were deconcentrated entities of central government that derived their authority from the Ministry of Local Government. They operated within the framework of the mandate entrusted to them by national government, and their autonomy was restricted by government action, public policy, and the law (Marumahoko and Fessha 2011). In 2013, however, this setup changed when the country adopted a new Constitution providing for a three-tier cooperative government structure made up of national government, provincial and metropolitan councils, and local authorities broken down into urban councils and rural district councils (Section 264 of Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution).…”

“…This negatively affected scheduled expansion of water supply and sewer reticulation, and urban councils are still hurting from the consequences of that impromptu policy. Worsening the situation is that national government forbids local councils to apply efficient water pricing policies (Marumahoko and Fessha 2011).…”

“…Even as urban councils provide services at subeconomic levels, national government's thinking seems to be that it is protecting the poor from being excluded in the health-care system (Marumahoko and Fessha 2011). The provision of health services to city dwellers at heavily subsidized rates has serious consequences for the financial position of the utilities, given that national government does not compensate urban local authorities for the subsidized prices.…”

Global Challenges in Democratic Local Governance of the African States

“…Specifically in Africa (in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa) Marumahoko and Fessha [3] strongly believe there is a growing realization in local-central government relations that urbanization has overstretched the ability and efforts of the central government, to serve from the centre, giving rise to the search for a robust decentralization policy, which vests urban local governments with some level of autonomy. In this context, decentralization has become critical in the quest to respond to the varied service-delivery challenges brought about by increasing urbanization.…”