Research articles (Dept of PAS)
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/85
2024-03-29T15:54:52ZCapacity building in a hostile environment: the case of Zimbabwe’s Rural District Councils
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1920
Capacity building in a hostile environment: the case of Zimbabwe’s Rural District Councils
Mandiyanike, David
The paper examines capacity building in Zimbabwe’s Rural District Councils (RDCs) from 1994 to 2001 and the resultant erosion of capacity during Zimbabwe’s protracted political and economic crisis that followed. It is prudent to ask whether there was ‘capacity building’ or ‘capacity erosion’.
The paper establishes that the capacity building was piecemeal and that there was no genuine desire to build capacity, but that Councils embarked on these programmes to access the funding that came with the programmes.
In some cases, the design of the Rural District Councils’ Capacity Building Programme (RDCCBP) was too rigid, derailed by the central government’s half-hearted attempts towards decentralisation, and failed to allow RDCs to learn-by-doing. Because of Zimbabwe’s politico-economic crisis, national level politicians were peremptory in their demands for better RDC results and an opportunity to learn was lost. The plethora of other rural development projects coupled with the project-based approach of the RDCCBP condemned capacity building efforts to the rigidities of projects and programmes, yet capacity building is better perceived as a continuous process with experiential learning. The paper concludes by arguing that capacity building efforts in RDCs were
largely unsuccessful, and were derailed by the ‘Zimbabwe crisis’; the result can only be described as
‘capacity building that never was’. Internal efforts by RDCs to build their own capacity are more sustainable than efforts prompted by the ‘carrot and stick’ approach of external actors, such ascentral government (in a bid to ‘hive off’ responsibilities) and funding agencies.
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZNebulous labour relations in Zimbabwe’s rural local authorities
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1919
Nebulous labour relations in Zimbabwe’s rural local authorities
Mandiyanike, David
Executive turnover can have far-reaching consequences on a local authority’s development policies, programs and commitments. This paper examines nebulous labour-related problems in Zimbabwe’s Rural District Councils (RDCs). The article chronicles the origins of the problems and how the RDCs have fallen prey to historical pitfalls. This paper critically reflects on the recruitment and dismissal of senior Rural District Council officers. The article analyses the longevity of CEOs in eight RDCs over a ten year period. The results demonstrate the sensitivity and vulnerability of such offices, and unpack the blurry boundaries that lie between policies and practice and the resultant impact on the labour relationships with RDC staff.
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZDevelopmental states: their historical absence and their emergence in post conflict Southern Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1918
Developmental states: their historical absence and their emergence in post conflict Southern Africa
Maundeni, Zibani
Did Southern African states have the developmental focus to make their countries rich? My hypothesis is that a
ordered in a certain way. My argument is that most Southern African states were historically not properly focused on making their countries rich. My other argument is that most of them are slowly shifting their focus towards making their countries rich.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZPrivatisation in Botswana: a case of firsts not happening first?
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1917
Privatisation in Botswana: a case of firsts not happening first?
Botlhale, Emmanuel
The late 1980s and early 1990s were characterised by unprecedented waves of privatisation in the world. Like other developing economies, Botswana jumped into the bandwagon and laid the legal framework for privatisation by way of promulgating a Privatisation Policy for Botswana in 2000. It is notable that despite the promulgation of the Policy, privatisation will only commence with the privatisation of the National Development Bank (NDB) in late 2011.
This paper, relying on a variety sources; for example, newspaper accounts, personal interviews etc traces the privatisation process beginning with the appointment of the Privatisation Task Force in 1997, the passage of the Privatisation Policy for Botswana in 2000 and right up to the aborted privatisation of Air Botswana and the recent decision to privatise the NDB. Largely drawing from the Air Botswana saga, the paper argues that key
firsts, being the delineation of an institutional-legal framework and public education on privatisation, either did not happen first or sloppily happened. As it is, Botswana has crossed the Rubicon, therefore, there is no going back on privatisation. Hence, as the government goes ahead with the privatisation of NDB, and the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation thereafter, there is a need to either do first things firstly or do them correctly so
that the privatisation project can be successfully delivered. Principally, the powers of the both the executive and legislative arms of government must be delineated in regard to privatisation and public education must be an ongoing exercise to ensure a buy-in.
2012-03-01T00:00:00Z