Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/4513
Title: Social accountability in local government: lessons from Vuwani (South Africa) and Gweru (Zimbabwe)
Authors: Kanyane, Modimowabarwa
Mutema, Edson P.
Zikhal, Thobekile
Keywords: Social accountability
Public participation
Issue Date: 2020
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
Series/Report no.: Journal of Public Affairs;
Abstract: What do experiences in South Africa and Zimbabwe teach us about the relationship between social accountability and public participation? The relationship between social accountability and public participation is widely acknowledged as important, yet the nuances that inform such a relationship are not critically discussed. To understand such nuances, this paper critically engages two cases: Vuwani (South Africa) and Gweru (Zimbabwe). The study underscores the importance of social accountability and public participation in local governance. Robust and open citizen engagement is critical to hold the state accountable. Thus, the two cases show how lack of a constructive participatory framework, wherein all relevant stakeholders are given a voice and informed about all developments, is problematic and can cause destructive outcomes in one case and sustained political frustrations in another. Using interviews with various social actors, document analysis and observations to bring to the fore social accountability and public participation nuances, this paper argues that public participation applies in different contexts and forms part of social accountability initiatives which largely depend on the extent of public engagement with non-state actors.
URI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2581
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pa.2581
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4513
ISSN: 2224-4441
Appears in Collections:Research Papers

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