Abstract
Centre-local relations have been an area of controversy in Zimbabwean local governance both as a discipline and as a practice. Local authorities have traded blows with central government particularly accusing the responsible Ministry of reducing them to spectators in their own field through excessive ministerial intervention. Meanwhile the ministry of local government has cracked the whip on local authorities accusing them of mismanagement and compromised service delivery. The independent media has described the scenario as a “Bloodbath” in local authorities. What appears to be misconstrued by many however is the fact that the governing legal and institutional framework of local governance in Zimbabwe provides room for the responsible Minister to legally enable or disable local authority administration. This governing framework has been and is still the “Achilles heel” of local authorities and the raison d’être of ministerial intervention in Zimbabwe.
Highlights
The article examines the legal and institutional framework of local government in Zimbabwe
It is the argument of this paper that the legal and institutional framework of local government in Zimbabwe is the most vulnerable part like the mortal heel of the ancient great Greek warrior, Achilles
Whilst the need for checks and balances on local authorities need not be overemphasized the dynamics of post-independence Zimbabwe are slowly turning into a déjà vu as the machinations of colonial period municipal ordinances, African Councils and the District Commissioner‟s office appear to start haunting contemporary local government administration
Summary
The article examines the legal and institutional framework of local government in Zimbabwe. In reality it is worth noting that local authorities are not independent from central government as the later defines the legal framework within which the former operates and constantly monitors its performance and conduct. It is the argument of this paper that the legal and institutional framework of local government in Zimbabwe is the most vulnerable part like the mortal heel of the ancient great Greek warrior, Achilles. The Ministry of Local Government can intervene in and control councils through this framework and still remain intra wires
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