Inter-Governmental Relations Between Central Government And Local Government Authorities In Tanzania

Bariki Gwalugano Mwasaga

doi:10.47191/ijsshr/v4-i10-33

Abstract

Tanzania in embarking the decentralization by devolution policy (D by D) as a mechanism of facilitating quick development process through the involvement of people from grass root levels has been carried out through the inter-government relations between the central government and the local government authorities (LGAs). Throughout its implementation there had been a supportive structural set up, including a constitutional mandate for local governments. Also, there has been an increased recognition of LGAs by central and sector ministries as partners rather than subordinate structures. However, the lack of a clear and effective institutional framework to govern the implementation of D by D and the lack of a shared understanding of D by D across ministries and other governmental institutions has made led to structural confusion between the Central government and the Local Government Authorities. Thus, this paper explores the undertakings of the inter-government relations between the central government and the local government authorities (LGAs) in order to forge a way forward for a inclusive and responsive governance in the country.

Highlights

Achieving sustainable development for a developing country like Tanzania, there is a need of having a system that incorporates efforts of all parties and actors on board including, the government, local communities, Political Parties, Private Sector, and Development Partners. (Venugopal & Yilmaz, 2010) stipulated that local governments in Tanzania were firstly introduced in 1926 in the Tanganyika territory by the colonial British
Based on the government structure with reference to the Constitution of Tanzania, the ruling party through its election manifesto has a mandate to enforce the course of actions at central level and up to grass root levels, which are under the mandate of local government authorities (LGAs)
In year 1982 marked a new wave of decentralisation reforms in Tanzania. It was during this year when LGAs were re-established, ward development committees revived and village governments incorporated into the district administration as a result of enactment of pieces of legislation with regard to local governance in Tanzania (Lyon, Zilihona, & Masanyiwa, 2018)

Summary

Introduction

Achieving sustainable development for a developing country like Tanzania, there is a need of having a system that incorporates efforts of all parties and actors on board including, the government (central government and local government authorities), local communities (individuals, Civil Society Organisations), Political Parties, Private Sector, and Development Partners. (Venugopal & Yilmaz, 2010) stipulated that local governments in Tanzania were firstly introduced in 1926 in the Tanganyika territory by the colonial British. Some scholars worried about the deviation of policy intentions due to delegation of decision-making roles from the central (principal) to the local implementors i.e., local governments (agents) and resulting into accountability-related problems (Maggetti & Papadopoulos, 2018; (Schillemans & Busuioc, 2015).

Results

Conclusion