A good governance framework for state institutions: The case of the Government of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The overarching purpose of the state is to provide a stable, secure, accountable, representative and economically viable environment, commonly referred to as good governance, where citizens can thrive and meet their goals. The government, consisting of bureaucrats and elected officials, use the state’s architecture and machinery to achieve good governance. A modern government consists of complex institutions, goals, policies and lines of authority deployed to provide citizens with public goods and services, and a healthy and stable environment crucial for their well-being. Delivering these services and good standards of living depends on efficient and effective public institutions that economically manage limited public resources to meet an increasing list of infinite needs. This study explores how the state’s resources can be optimally utilised to meet citizens’ needs. Challenges associated with good governance can be addressed by ensuring that government institutions adhere to certain globally-accepted standards, values, norms and principles. This reasoning motivated the researcher to explore public sector interventions within the ecosystem of good governance praxis. A situational analysis indicated that the public sector is plagued by perennial issues such as poor performance, the general lack of political and administrative oversight, widespread state corruption and financial mismanagement. The Zimbabwean public sector has also witnessed decades of strategic decline due to internal political dynamics and forces associated with international trade, globalisation and foreign relations. The pariah state badge, international condemnation and near-global isolation imposed on the country further starved the public sector of the required capacity, competency and resources, resulting in the relative inability of government institutions to fulfil their constitutional mandate and statutory obligations. Good governance standards, values, norms and principles offer a valuable conceptual and theoretical framework for the design of suitable solutions and interventions to increase the performance of the state's machinery and reimagine the value proposition of the country’s public sector. Good governance praxis may leverage human capital, efficient public sector resources management and citizens’ participation in public affairs to create value for the citizens and strengthen public oversight of the functioning of public institutions. The study adopted a qualitative research design imbedded in an interpretivist paradigm to investigate the research problem. Qualitative research is suitable in social science research, where the researcher has to collect deep insights into a specific social phenomenon. A case study design was also employed together with semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire and document analysis. These were used as primary data collection methods. These methodological choices provided flexibility and insights into the functions, operations, strategic goals, performance and management of selected public institutions in Zimbabwe. Semi-structured interviews enabled the researcher to engage decision-makers, bureaucrats and senior public officials responsible for implementing public policies and overseeing the management of resources. In addition, a representative purposive sample was drawn from civil society organisations, academics, non-governmental organisations, directors, CEOs and executive secretaries in various state and non-state institutions mainly responsible for monitoring and oversight. The study’s findings revealed the underlying challenges facing public sector institutions, hampering adherence to good governance praxis. The main challenges include inadequate funding, insufficient human capital, compromised institutional independence, poor accountability and transparency, weak political oversight, and a lack of cooperation between public institutions and non-state actors. The findings reflect the state of governance in Zimbabwe. The researcher develops a good governance framework to address public sector challenges. The good governance framework is targeted mainly for application at the national level. It demonstrates how leveraging efficient and effective management of resources, financial management, accountability and value-for-money in public sector institutions can increase their overall performance and reinvigorate their value propositions. The study also outlined a research agenda for future scholarly inquiry into public officials’ competencies, capacities and skills to implement the good governance framework. This agenda is rooted in the realisation that strategic and operational level public sector interventions are only as successful as the public officials’ ability to implement them.