Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Southern Africa \ Women in local government

Gender equity is a priority for CLGF members and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is working towards gender equity and has set a target of a minimum of 30 per cent of women in public life – both in elected leadership positions and administration – including at the local level. A key focus is developing strategies to increase women's participation in decision making.

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The Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013 as a basis for local government transformation

The implications of local government constitutional provisions have not been fully debated hence the gap that MSU and CLGF sought to close through debate leading to this edited volume. The debate recognised limited progress in implementing relevant provisions of the Constitution particularly the core ideals of devolution which remain contentious suggesting need for an implementation framework and plan. Such a framework would guide reforms of relevant administrative structures and relations. Currently these remain unchanged and thus constitute an implementation drag. The ‘dragging’ is seen in re-centralisation of local authority functions and spaces suggesting that the devolution agenda is not yet fully institutionalised. Changes in local government now require a constitutional rather than legislative changes and policy directives. The right to govern, the right to services and space for citizen participation are provided for in ways that usher a new dispensation for both national and local governance. Local government constitutionalisation is accompanied by a guaranteed sharing of national resources (at least 5%) between the national and sub-national tiers of government. Contributions in this volume provide an in-depth understanding on the constitutional provisions on local government and search for trajectories critical for entrenching the mechanisms needed to implement and optimise those provisions. Much of the discussion on local government constitutionalisation has hitherto been limited to realignment of laws. It did not engage with deeper governance transformations anticipated in the constitution. As such, this paper teases out key questions and reflects on possible avenues for making the constitution live. The paper generates preliminary yet foundational knowledge to guide further debate and practical processes needed for local-national constitutionalism post 2013. Important governance issues need not continue to be usurped by party political actors and interests.

Author: Kudzai Chatiza, Kadmiel Wekwet, July Moyo, Angeline Sithole, Stephen Chakaipa, Vincent Chakunda, Edson Mutema, Naome Rajah, Kudzai Matsika, Virginia Makanza and Patrick Banga Publisher: CLGF Publication year: 2016


Local government system in South Africa

This profile of the local government system in South Africa is structured to enable easy comparison across the countries of the Commonwealth. The profile includes an overview of the government system, the legal basis for and structure of local government, elections and women’s representation, intergovernmental relations, systems for community involvement, organised local government, intergovernmental relations, monitoring systems, finance, staffing and resources, and distribution of service delivery responsibility. 

Author: CLGF Publisher: Publications UK Publication year: 2015


Local government system in Swaziland

This profile of the local government system in Swaziland is structured to enable easy comparison across the countries of the Commonwealth. The profile includes an overview of the government system, the legal basis for and structure of local government, elections and women’s representation, intergovernmental relations, systems for community involvement, organised local government, intergovernmental relations, monitoring systems, finance, staffing and resources, and distribution of service delivery responsibility. 

Author: CLGF Publisher: Publications UK Publication year: 2015


Local government system in Tanzania

This profile of the local government system in Tanzania is structured to enable easy comparison across the countries of the Commonwealth. The profile includes an overview of the government system, the legal basis for and structure of local government, elections and women’s representation, intergovernmental relations, systems for community involvement, organised local government, intergovernmental relations, monitoring systems, finance, staffing and resources, and distribution of service delivery responsibility. 

Author: CLGF Publisher: Publications UK Publication year: 2015


Local government system in Zambia

This profile of the local government system in Zambia is structured to enable easy comparison across the countries of the Commonwealth. The profile includes an overview of the government system, the legal basis for and structure of local government, elections and women’s representation, intergovernmental relations, systems for community involvement, organised local government, intergovernmental relations, monitoring systems, finance, staffing and resources, and distribution of service delivery responsibility. 

Author: CLGF Publisher: Publications UK Publication year: 2015


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