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ABSTRACT
Most scholars agree that the character of the urban governance system in Zimbabwe is a reflection of the dominance of one political party, namely, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). However, the increasingly prominent role of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in urban governance has heralded, since the early 2000s, a period marked by change, contestation and confusion. Simultaneously, the destabilising effect of contested urban governance politics on urban management in Zimbabwe has become entrenched. This article focuses on the interface between urban governance politics and urban management in Zimbabwe in the post-2000 era. It analyses how central government, through the local government ministry, local government statutes and appointed officials, structures, and even destabilises, the administration of urban affairs. The article concludes that urban governance is not merely a site of political contestation, as it has also profoundly influenced and altered the functioning of urban administration in Zimbabwe.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes on contributors
Davison Muchadenyika is a research fellow with the Institute for Social Development, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He researches and writes on cities and international development. His work has appeared in book chapters and more than 12 articles in journals such as Cities, Urban Forum, Habitat International, Journal of Southern African Studies, Journal of International Development, Development Policy Review, among others. He can be contacted at: [email protected].
John J. Williams is a Senior Professor and is attached to the School of Government, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town. His research focuses on social change. He can be contacted at: [email protected].
Notes
1 Interview with former MDC Harare Councillor, 3 June 2013.
2 Interview with political analyst, 6 June 2013.
3 Interview with former Local Government Permanent Secretary, 14 June 2013.
4 Interview with Local Government Ministry official, 20 August 2013.
5 Interview with practicing planner, 12 June 2013.
6 Interview with City Planner, 15 June 2013.
7 The Town Clerk in question was suspended by Harare’s Mayor on 30 January 2014. However, the local government minister convened a press conference on 1 February 2014 and reinstated the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk was subsequently suspended by the City of Harare on 30 June 2015. The timing coincided with a Cabinet reshuffle which changed the local government minister. Without protection from a new local government minister, the dismissal of the Town Clerk had to take effect.
8 Interview with local government consultant, 15 August 2013.
9 Interview with local government professional, 25 July 2013.
10 Interview with councillor, 25 July 2013.
11 Interview with Government planner, 14 August 2013.
12 Interview with city planner, 18 June 2013.
13 Interview with NGO director, 6 June 2013.
14 Ibid.
15 Interview with city official, 7 June 2013.
16 Interview with NGO worker, 6 June 2013.
17 Interview with city official, 7 June 2013.
18 Interview with former Local Government Permanent Secretary, 14 June 2013.
19 Interview with residents association director, 9 July 2013.
20 Interview with planning consultant, 12 June 2013.
21 Interview with planning school lecturer, 10 June 2013.
22 Interview with former Local Government permanent secretary, 14 June 2013.
23 Interview with city official, 9 July 2013.
24 Interview with political analyst, 6 June 2013.
25 Interview with city planner, 15 August 2013.
26 Ibid.
27 Interview with councillor, 28 June 2013.
28 Interview with former MDC Councillor, 3 June 2013.
29 Ibid.
30 Ibid.
31 Interview with planning consultant, 06 July 2013.
32 Interview with NGO director, 6 June 2013.
33 Interview with city official, 15 August 2013.
34 Interview with planning school lecturer, 6 June 2013.
35 Interview with MDC policy chief, 19 June 2013.
36 Ibid.
37 Ibid.
38 Interview with Government planner, 15 July 2013.
39 Interview with senior city official, 15 August 2013.
40 Interview with residents association director, 9 July 2013.
41 Interview with NGO director, 6 June 2013.
42 Ibid.
43 Interview with NGO director, 6 June 2013.
44 Interview with political analyst, 6 June 2013.
45 Interview with planner, 12 June 2013.
46 Interview with NGO director, 20 June 2013.
47 Interview with former Local Government permanent secretary, 14 June 2013.
48 Interview with MDC official, 19 June 2013.
49 Ibid.
50 Ibid.
51 Interview with government planner, 15 July 2013.