6.6 Budget Process in Gweru,Zimbabwe

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TABLE 6.6 Budget Process in Gweru, Zimbabwe

Stage Formal activity Informal participation

1: Identification ofneeds and priorities

2: Costing and determination of global funding requirements

3: Budget finalization

4: Budget implementation Five-year strategic development plan with annual priorities used to determine and adjust year’s priorities. National guidelines received and incorporated into local budget. Executive committee issues budget guidelines for Council adoption. Manpower committee negotiates with labor unions on level ofwages and salaries. Finance committee meetings held to determine global funding requirements and set level ofcharges as well as capital programs and their financing.

Council meeting adopts recommendations of finance committee, advertises budget in two issues of the newspaper in order to allow for public objections.

Council considers objections before finalizing budget. Budget sent to Ministry of

Local Government for approval ofhigh-density area charges (poor areas). Budget is implemented, monitored, and evaluated.

Source: Adapted from Mika 2004. Note: SNG = subnational government. Stakeholders review guidelines with SNG and agree on impacts to be incorporated into SNG budget.

Broad stakeholder committee delegates detailed budgeting to a stakeholder budget committee it elects.

Committee works closely with treasurer and finance committee.

Councillors hold regular ward meetings to consult on budget with stakeholder budget committee.

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The Impact ofParticipation Participation in budgetary processes is still relatively new in most ofthe countries reviewed here.Already,however,it has increased the number of projects that directly benefit communities and correspond to the priorities identified through the participation process.Relationships between citizens and local authorities have improved,and citizens have a more positive attitude toward and better understanding ofthe local authority.

Kenya Citizens have participated in the budget process in Nairobi since 2003.The result has been a large increase in the number ofprojects suggested and implemented.Project ideas originate with residents,based on their perceived needs.As a result ofresident involvement,there is a strong sense of ownership.Through improved dialogue,good rapport has developed between the council and residents,which did not exist in the past.The Local Authority Service Delivery Action Plan process provides a good opportunity for meaningful dialogue and the identification ofservice delivery activities that respond directly to the needs oflocal residents.Of154 projects identified in 2002/03,106 were shortlisted for funding and implementation. Council staffhave also made themselves more accessible to all stakeholders.

Mozambique Civic participation is still in its infancy in Mozambique.However,in both Manhica and Dondo municipalities,interaction between the local authority and civic groups has increased and relations have improved.The local authorities have a better idea ofthe composition ofsociety.Community members now participate jointly with the local authority in planning,programming, implementing,and monitoring and evaluating local projects.In Manhica a multistakeholder management committee was established in 2000 that raises funds and deals with a local flooding problem.Civic awareness meetings were held in 29 bairros,resulting in cleaning and reconstruction campaigns and the building oftwo boats to overcome flooding problems.Village committees in Dondo are active in local economic development,with local women maintaining community facilities such as water pumps and refuse removal.

South Africa In Mangaung municipality the use ofcommunity-based planning in ward committees has seen the focus ofbudget funding shift from infrastructure development to local economic development,a higher priority for citizens.

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The community also perceives the municipality as being more transparent. More people are informed about what is happening in the municipality and can now demand accountability by regularly asking questions regarding issues raised at meetings.There is constant participation through the ward committees,which provide the municipality with regular feedback and input.Submissions received from the budget conference on various budgetary issues are seriously considered and taken into account when finalizing the budget.

In Ekurhuleni municipality the major impact from the participation process has been a change in funding priorities rather than an increase in spending.Through the participation process,the municipality has taken a closer look at the lives ofpensioners and increased the concessions given to them.There has also been an influence on the indigent policy and the allocation to free basic services.Policies have been modified in ways that benefit the poor,and budget allocations to free basic services have increased.

Tanzania Civic participation has had a positive impact on the structure and effectiveness ofbudget and development plans in Tanzania.Staffofthe Singida District Council solicited community participation in preparing and approving village budgets for 2004/05.The logical framework approach was applied to medium-term plans and budgets in four villages for the rehabilitation ofthe water scheme,the rehabilitation and construction ofshallow wells,and the construction ofa cattle dam.3 The Ilala Municipal Council now directly involves citizens in meetings to discuss and prioritize community problems and propose projects for budgetary resource allocation.In both councils the number ofprojects implemented jointly by the council and communities has increased.Participation has fostered a more positive attitude among citizens, resulting in greater acceptability ofcost-sharing,user charges,and other costrecovery mechanisms.The effectiveness ofbudgets and development plans in addressing community concerns has improved.Equity and transparency in the allocation ofresources across communities have increased,especially with regard to resources allocated to the previously neglected inner city and periphery.Relations between the council and citizens have improved,as has the ability to analyze and prioritize problems and issues.The level ofcommunity involvement in designing,executing,and monitoring and evaluating projects has increased.Official recognition ofprivate and public contributions from the center to community projects,which are now incorporated into plans and budgets,has encouraged nonpublic contributions and given hope to citizens for improved service delivery.

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Uganda Through the participatory process,citizens in Entebbe municipality are now involved in drafting the city’s three-year strategic plan,which guides development activities in the municipality.An attempt has been made to establish a good working relationship between councillors,officials,and citizens.The council has a list ofall registered civic organizations and invites at least some oftheir leaders to attend its meetings.

Civic organizations and NGOs in Soroti municipality have a positive attitude toward attending council meetings,where they present the priorities and interests ofthe community.Through the participatory process,a network ofNGOs and civic groups has been formed to ensure that the interests ofcitizens are articulated before the council.Civic groups have learned and internalized the procedures ofthe council in preparing the budget.The resource base ofthe municipality has increased as people who previously refused to pay taxes now do so,because they have a better understanding of the use to which council resources are put. Zambia Thirty-six residents development committees have been established in Kabwe municipality.Three health centers have been established,and piped water has been provided for two ofthe centers.New markets have been constructed and improvements made to existing markets.

To ensure that cross-cutting issues are mainstreamed in community projects,members ofresidents development committees have been trained to deal with problems ofHIV/AIDS,gender mainstreaming,the environment,and infrastructure maintenance.District officials,residents development committees,and neighborhood committees formed a task force to deal with these issues.As a result,funding was allocated to a home-based care project in Chowa;a project for the care ofterminally ill people with HIV/AIDS;expansion ofthe Ngungu health center,which cares for the chronically ill;and expansion ofa school,the clearing ofits storm drains, and the planting oftrees around the school. Zimbabwe Civic participation in the Mutoko Rural District Council has given residents there a new sense ofbelonging and ownership.Linkages have been strengthened between the local authority and stakeholders,and cooperation between government departments,traditional leaders,and civic society organizations has increased.A common and shared vision has developed to guide future community development and annual budgets.