An analysis of the implementation of the integrated development plan in the Bophirima District Municipality

Abstract

The Integrated Development Planning is regarded as a tool for bridging the gap between the current development reality and the vision of equitable, sustainable development and service delivery. This new planning approach is meant to enable municipalities to develop strategic policy capacity, to mobilise resources and to target its own. activities. It is a tool that municipalities can use to become developmentally oriented, as well as to mobilise participation of local communities with the intention of meeting local citizens' social, economic and material needs. It guides and informs all planning, development, management actions and decisions. This study has attempted to analyse the implementation of the Integrated Development Plan using the Bophirima District Municipality as a case study. The critical question that the study attempted to answer was whether there was any progress made in the implementation of the district municipality's plan to uplift the living conditions of local citizens. The study also focused on whether local citizens participated in the planning process of their own development. The primary instrument for data collection used in this study was questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that municipalities lacked high quality technical skills to manage, administer and source finances to implement sustainable projects. It is therefore recommended that:- a) For development to be sustainable, all municipalities in the district should design and implement a full participation strategy by all municipal stakeholders and mobilise financial resources to implement projects identified to improve the living standards of communities. b) Municipalities should expedite the implementation of local economic development strategy to attract sustainable businesses to the area to create jobs and markets for internal and outside suppliers.