Transforming Rural Local Government: Zimbabwe's Postindependence Experience

This paper is a reflection on the recent trends and future of rural local government in Zimbabwe. The paper begins with a brief description of the dualistic and very unequal preindependence local government structures. The postindependence era is subdivided into two phases: A first phase of continued separate development, and a second phase in which former ‘European’ rural councils and the ‘African’ district councils are being amalgamated. The research is based on representative samples of audited accounts. The postindependence income and expenditure trends of the two main rural local authorities and of the District Development Fund are presented. Disparities between and within types of local authorities are calculated. Against this background the (amalgamated) Rural District Councils Act (1987) is examined and key issues are highlighted. The paper ends with a brief assessment of the policy experience.