CONTEXTUALISING STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNANCE OF HARARE’S INFORMAL ECONOMY SECTOR

Year 2020, , 103 - 118, 30.06.2020

Linos Mapfumo Sybert Mutereko

https://doi.org/10.34109/ijefs.202012107

Cited By: 2

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore various public participatory stakeholders in the management of the City of Harare’s informal sector as well as to assess the role of stakeholders in the governance of this sector within the context of political polarisation. In doing so, the study employed a mixed method approach which included a questionnaire survey (N=195), in-depth interviews (N=12) and documentary analysis. Main observations suggested that public participation was far from being achieved due to a multiplicity of factors. Furthermore, despite the introduction of a progressive constitution and the existence of various participatory mechanisms, various challenges continue to inhibit public participation in Harare. These include lack of funding, continued central government intervention, re-centralisation of governance due to loss of political power by the ruling party, political polarisation, resistance by administrators to co-opt the public into decision-making processes and failure to adapt to change. In addition, despite commendable efforts by various stakeholders to engender stakeholder participation, there was a distinct absence of the development and implementation of effective stakeholder involvement strategies in flea market governance. The analysis also showed that the role of the Council especially that of councillors, has been diminishing over the years and conversely, City administrative officials have become more powerful beyond their line of duty. To make matters worse, currently, there are no specific legislative provisions that provide for community participation. The findings will be of interest to local government officials and scholars alike as they have a number of practical implications. There is a need to put in place a robust legislative framework that promotes citizenry involvement and that de-links party politics from development and governance of local authorities. A key policy priority should, therefore, be to inculcate a culture of inclusivity, tolerance and de-centralisation of power and governance.

Keywords

Public participation, polarisation, governance, flea markets

References

• Arnstein, SR. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners 35: 216-224.
• Beierle TC, Cayford J (2002). Democracy in practice: public participation in environmental decisions, Resources For The Future. Washington, D. C:Routelodge
• Berner MM, Amos JM and Morse RS. (2011) What constitutes effective citizen participation in local government? Views from city stakeholders. Public Administration Quarterly. (35) 1:128-163.
• Berry LH, Koski J, Verkuijl C, Strambo C, Piggot G 2019. Making Space: How Public Participation Shapes Environmental Decision-making. Stockholm Environmental Institute Discussion Brief. Available at <https:// www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/makingspace-how-public-participation-shapes-environmental-decision-making.pdf> (Retrieved on 7 May 2019).
• Board OS & Council NR. (2004) Analytical methods and approaches for water resources project planning: National Academies Press, Washington.
• Bond P & Manyanya M. (2003) Zimbabwe's plunge: exhausted nationalism, neoliberalism, and the search for social justice. University of Natal Press: Durban.
• Bonga, W.G., 2014. Economic Policy Analysis in Zimbabwe: A Review of Zimbabwe Economic Policies: Special Reference to Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset). Available at SSRN 2384863.
• Brody SD. (2003) Measuring the effects of stakeholder participation on the quality of local plans based on the principles of collaborative ecosystem management. Journal of Planning Education and Research. 22: 407-419.
• Certomà C, Chelleri L & Notteboom B. (2019) The ‘fluid governance’of urban public spaces. Insights from informal planning practices in Rome. Urban Studies: 0042098018819734
• Chaise I. (2009) The geography of informal sector operations (ISOs): A perspective of urban Zimbabwe. Journal of Geography and Regional Planning 2: 66.
• Chibisa P & Sigauke C. (2008) Impact of Operation Murambatsvina (Restore Order) on flea markets in Mutare: implications for achieving MDG1 and sustainable urban livelihoods. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa. 10: 31-64.
• Chikerema AF & Chakunda V. (2014) Political Culture and Democratic Governance in Zimbabwe. Journal of Power. 2: 55-66.
• Chikerema AF. (2013) Citizen participation and local democracy in Zimbabwean local government system. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 13: 87-90.
• Christiano T. (2018) The rule of the many: Fundamental issues in democratic theory. New York NY: Routledge.
• Day D. (1997) Citizen participation in the planning process: An essentially contested concept? CPL Bibliography. 11: 421-434.
• Dube G & Casale D. (2019) Informal sector taxes and equity: Evidence from presumptive taxation in Zimbabwe. Development Policy Review. 37: 47-66.
• Ebdon C & Franklin AL. (2006) Citizen participation in budgeting theory. Public Administration Review. 66: 437-447.
• Gandy O. (2019) Ted Grossardt & Keiron Bailey, Transportation Planning and Public Participation: Theory, Process and Practice. International Journal of Communication. 13: 3.
• Gough MZ. (2019) Readings in Planning Theory. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
• Haruta C & Bianca R. (2010) Citizen Participation in the Decision Making Process at Local and County Levels in the Romanian Public Instituitons. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences. 6: 76-92.
• Innes JE & Booher DE. (2004) Reframing public participation: strategies for the 21st century. Planning Theory & Practice. 5: 419-436.
• Jonga W. (2014) Local government system in Zimbabwe and associated challenges: Synthesis and antithesis. Archives of Business Research. 2: 73-98.
• Kamete AY & Lindell I. (2010) The politics of ‘non-planning’interventions in African cities: Unravelling the international and local dimensions in Harare and Maputo. Journal of Southern African Studies. 36: 889-912.
• Kantamaturapoj K, Piyajun G & Wibulpolprasert S. (2018) Stakeholder’s opinion of public participation in Thai environmental and health impact assessment. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 36: 429-441.
• Kweit MG & Kweit RW. (1981) Implementing citizen participation in a bureaucratic society: A contingency approach. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers.
• Ligomeka, W. (2019) Expensive to be a Female Trader: The Reality of Taxation of Flea Market Traders in Zimbabwe, ICTD Research in Brief 35. Brighton, IDS
• Liu B, Wang X, Xia N, et al., (2018) Critical Success Factors for the Management of Public Participation in Urban Renewal Projects: Perspectives from Governments and the Public in China. Journal of Urban Planning and Development. 144: 04018026.
• Ma J, Hipel KW & Hanson ML. (2018) An evaluation of the social dimensions in public participation in rural domestic waste source-separated collection in Guilin, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 190: 35.
• Mapuva J. (2010) Citizen participation and local governance: case study of the Combined Harare Residents Association (Zimbabwe). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
• Mapuva J. (2014) Challenges to Urban Democratic Governance in Zimbabwe: The Case of the Appointment of Special Interest Councillors in Urban Local Councils. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
• Masvaure S. (2016) ‘Unshared vision’: decentralisation in Zimbabwe, a special reference to the Harare City Council. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Durban
• Muranda C. (2011) Making ends meet : Women in the informal sector with Special reference to Mupedzanhamo. Economic History. Harare: University of Zimbabwe Press, Harare.
• Musoni F. (2010) Operation Murambatsvina and the politics of street vendors in Zimbabwe. Journal of Southern African Studies. 36: 301-317.
• Natarajan L, Lock SJ, Rydin Y, et al., (2019) Participatory planning and major infrastructure: experiences in REI NSIP regulation. Town Planning Review. 90: 117-138.
• Pu S, Shao Z, Fang M, et al., (2019) Spatial distribution of the public's risk perception for air pollution: A nationwide study in China. Science of the Total Environment. 655: 454-462.
• Rangaswamy N. (2019) A note on informal economy and ICT. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. e12083.
• Rowe G & Frewer LJ. (2000) Public participation methods: a framework for evaluation. Science, Technology, & Human Values. 25: 3-29.
• Sachikonye LM. (2006) The impact of operation murambatsvina/clean up on the working people in Zimbabwe. Harare: A Report prepared for LEDRIZ.
• Seetharaman P, Cunha MA & Effah J. (2019) IT for the informal sector in developing countries: A broader perspective. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. e12093.
• Simonsen W & Robbins MD. (2000) Citizen participation in resource allocation. Boulder. Colorado: Westview Press.
• Simonsen W. (2018) Citizen participation in resource allocation. London: Routledge.
• Skenjana N & Kimemia P. (2011) Existing mechanisms for public participation at local government level. Recognising Community Voice and Dissatisfaction: 1: 55.
• Tu, Z., Hu, T. & Shen, R., 2019. Evaluating public participation impact on environmental protection and ecological efficiency in China: Evidence from PITI disclosure. China Economic Review, 55, pp.111-123.
• Williamson A & Fung A. (2004) Public deliberation: Where are we and where can we go? National Civic Review. 93: 3-15.
• Zimbabwe Po. (2013) Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) No.1. Harare: Government Printers.