Governance and Leadership Practices and Challenges in Ethiopia. The Case of Dukem Town in Oromia Regional State

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of leadership on governance effectiveness in Dukem town. The population of this study were development team coordinators, representatives of private business organizations, and community institutions of the town. In addition, cabinet members and civil servants of the town administration were the target population for the source of data in this assessment. A total of 145 samples were selected using purposive and random sampling methods. The findings show that important traits of a leader that results in effective and better performance were missing. The informants argued that poor commitment is noticeable in the implementation of good governance in the town. Leaders are promoted to higher positions without being sufficiently prepared for the leadership role and with less sufficient understanding of the significance of good governance principles. In addition, lack of competence, inefficient and ineffective monitoring and evaluation system were major factors that contributed to ineffectiveness of leadership practices of the town administration. This poor achievement is manifested in poor coordination with stakeholders, rent seeking attitudes and poor commitment of the leadership and employees. Although various initiatives have been pursed in Oromia National Regional State to ensure good governance such as citizen charter, fighting rent seeking attitudes and making some arrangements in running town affairs, still ineffective leadership and bad governance is reported in different urban centers of the region.