Participatory Budgeting in rural councils: The case of Mangwe District Council, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Participatory Budgeting (PB) lies at the core of the New Public Management reforms, which seek to reform public finances through increased citizen participation. Participatory Budgeting is fundamental for democratic governance and for empowering communities to play an active role in shaping local fiscal decisions. The adoption of PB in Zimbabwe was motivated by the need to enhance citizen participation, service delivery, transparency and accountability, and responsiveness to the needs of the citizens. This study investigated the intricate dynamics of PB's implementation, and its diverse outcomes within the unique context of Mangwe Rural District Council (RDC) in Zimbabwe. This research is underpinned by a qualitative approach using semi-structured key informant interviews. Extensive fieldwork within the local context provided in-depth understanding of the intricate dynamics at play. These qualitative insights are supplemented by meticulous document analysis which further enriches the empirical fabric of the study. The findings are in sync with the problem which necessitated this study, which is that despite adopting PB, Zimbabwean local councils are failing to attain positive PB outcomes. The research findings yielded an array of PB outcomes ranging from the lack of empowerment of citizens through limited engagement in the PB process, to grappling with accountability and transparency challenges, and navigating constraints in service delivery. In response to these findings, the fifth objective of this study sought to develop a participatory financial model for use in Mangwe RDC, and in other similar environments. Grounded in a robust theoretical foundation, this study seamlessly amalgamates empirical insights garnered from extensive fieldwork with well-established public management paradigms, theoretical frameworks, and globally recognized best practices. Informed by this comprehensive understanding, the study crafts a comprehensive financial model akin to a strategic blueprint. This is done with the aim of strengthening PB within rural local governments. The proposed model underscores the significance of the theoretical frameworks that advocate citizen participation and bottom-up engagement approaches. Moreover, the model recognizes the need to address the dynamics in the political, technological, economic and legislative environments in-order to ensure the efficacy of PB in Mangwe RDC. Going beyond the realms of theoretical discourse, the financial model provides a proactive strategy to overcome barriers to effective implementation of PB in rural local governments. Through fostering synergy between stakeholders, judicious resource allocation, capacity building and empowerment, affording citizens an oversight role, and fostering the evaluation and feedback loop, the model emerges as a citizen-oriented approach, which upholds the ideals of PB. In essence, this study aspires to contribute substantially to the ongoing discourse surrounding PB implementation, underscoring its pivotal role in enhancing local governance and steering community development across the distinct landscape of Zimbabwe.