STRENTHENING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Date
2011-04-05
Authors
Fani, Sethunya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study investigates the challenges that local government faces in
Botswana because of its over-reliance on central government for the bulk
of its revenue, and gives recommendations as to how this could be
minimised. Most African countries like Botswana have embarked on
decentralization of services and expenditure as a means of taking
development to the people; however, this has happened with very little
being done regarding fiscal decentralization. By examining existing
literature on decentralization and fiscal decentralization, and conducting
in-depth interviews with key informants in two case studies, one urban and
another a rural council, the challenges faced by local government were
examined.
The findings from this study demonstrated that there are indeed
challenges with respect to the reliance of local government on the central
government for the bulk of its revenue. Indications are that in the present
situation, the councils’ collection of revenue is limited. Consequently, in
order for local government to improve and reduce its reliance on the
central government, it is recommended that there be capacity-building in
local government; and that community participation is enhanced,
particularly with regard to cost sharing. The research is informed by the
fact that local government does need central government support but it is
also important that it generates enough own revenue to have some degree
of authority over what it does
Description
MM - P&DM
Keywords
Local government, Fiscal decentralization, Botswana