A time to reflect on Zimbabwe‟s rural Local Governance: Case of Bulilima RDC”

ABSTRACT

The 2015 MDG deadline draws nigh and the need to assess the progress that has been made towards their achievement has never been greater. So great is the need, it calls for robust strategies to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs. On the other end, the Zimbabwean populace still suffers extreme poverty. Unemployment is on the upsurge and the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. The consequences of the catastrophe are even more severe in the rural populace. Although there are trivial developments in gender equality and the reduction of HIV/AIDS, this has not translated to the betterment of the country‟s position towards the meeting of the 2015 MDG deadline. Local Authorities on the other hand are failing to deliver services efficiently and effectively. Rural Local Authorities are not spared from the challenges of delivering services to the attainment of the MDGs. It is in this light perhaps that this study sought to measure the extent to which Local Authorities will manage to meet the 2015 MDG deadline. The research begins with a synopsis of why the research was carried out. This includes the background of the study, statement of the problem, research objectives, research questions, delimitation and limitations of the study. The research identifies the problem as failure by Local Authorities to deliver services that are essential to the achievement of the MDGs yet there is very little time left for their achievement. The research goes further to review available literature on the subject of MDG and local governance, first highlighting the nexus between local governance and the achievement of the MDG. The historical development of the MDGs is given after which an outline of all the MDGs will be given. The research also highlights the role of Local Authorities in the achievement of the MDGs, strategies employed and the challenges faced in their achievement. Quantitative and qualitative technics were used and the researcher targeted Bulilima RDC employees and residents as the research population. The research sample was selected using random sampling. Findings of the research revealed that there is progress towards the achievement of MDGs 3 and 6 though this cannot entail the meeting of the deadline. The research results revealed that B RDC is quite off track in terms of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. The research also revealed that residents lack knowledge on the subject of the MDGs. Finally the research gives recommendations to rural local authorities for the achievement of the MDGs which are ensuring public awareness, integrated results based MDG programme, established of Public-Private Partnership and exchange visit programs among other recommendations.