Abstract

BARRIERS FACED BY RESIDENTS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION; A CASE OF BINDURA, ZIMBABWE

Chigunwe Taurai, Kudenga Mugove

Volume: 6 Issue: 4 2016

Abstract:

This is part of a broad research that sought to find out the levels of participation of residents in local governance This paper looks at the residents’ perceptions of barriers they face in attempts to participate in local governance . The study was carried out against a background of a perception that during the last decade service delivery by local authorities in Zimbabwe has declined drastically. Although many factors could be attributed to this decline, it can be argued that people’s participation in the local governance processes has also reduced drastically resulting in misplaced priorities by the local authorities. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches focusing on Bindura Municipality as the study location. The study used the quota sampling method where research participants were drawn from high, middle and low density suburbs. Fifteen participants were drawn from each type of the suburbs in Bindura. The study sample consisted of Bindura residents, counselors and residents associations’ representatives. The research used questionnaires as research instruments. The study found out that the main barriers faced by residents in participating in local government issues included lack of consultation, invitations being improperly made, bad timing of meetings, meetings yielding no tangible results and poor organization of meetings. The study recommends that counselors be trained in ways of organizing meetings, setting out of ward structures to organize meetings and involving residents in organizing meetings and other developmental initiatives.

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