SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY STOCKTAKING EXERCISE
FOR AFRICA
SOCIO-ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROJECT IN
HARARE, BULAWAYO AND MUTARE
Methodology Type
Specify whether (i)PB, (ii)IBA, (iii)BPET, or (iv) PPM (can select more than
one option as some SA initiatives do not fit neatly into these categories)
Socio-Economic Justice and Municipal Services
Project
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development
(ZIMCODD)
Harare, Zimbabwe
Name of Intervention
Primary Agency Running
Intervention
Basic
Information
Location
National, Local Budget Systems in the context of
Globalization
The engagement is continuous policy analysis and
advocacy and is being institutionalized.
Sector or Level of Focus
Type of Engagement
What is the driving force behind
the SA initiative?
Context and
Scope
What are the main objectives and
what key accountability problems
does it seek to address?
Who is the target audience or
demographic focus?
What is the political culture or
environment?
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There has been a decline in the quality of service
delivery (as evidenced by a fall in health delivery
systems, education standards, water quality, poor
refuse collection and many more problems
bedeviling the urban municipalities) by local
municipalities. Excuses for poor service delivery
have centered on lack of funds among other things
but ZIMCODD understands that the Macroeconomic conditions (Debt and Globalization
policies) are important and needs careful scrutiny
at global, national and local (municipal level).
Debts and economic policies affect the capacity of
budgets to delivery on priority service provision.
The main objective is to increase the interface
between public policy and citizens in the area of
service delivery. The key accountability area is on
Governance scores to be rated on service delivery,
basic rights of poor citizens and transparency in
public finance design and management.
Public service providers and residents (and
residents associations) and broader civil society.
In Zimbabwe, at a local government level, the
political culture is mixed. In most cases, there is a
commitment to democratic processes at policy
level. However, a combination of weak linkages
between civil society and local authorities hamper
evaluation of the political system. The current
political and economic recession in the country is
limiting the democratic options in service
provision.
What specific SA tools and
methodologies are being used?
Briefly describe the methodology
(/ies) or tools used.
Tools and
Methodologies
Used
What advocacy and media
activities support the initiative?
Zimcodd seeks to introduce score cards, focused
study groups and workshops.
 Baseline surveys
 Detailed Expenditure Tracking systems
 Training Tool Kits
 Training of Trainers
 Documentaries
 Popular Budgeting Monitoring and
Evaluation
 Loan tracking
 Public Meetings
Training of Councilors on Public Finance
Roundtable discussion with Council Treasury
Training of Journalist on Municipal Reporting
Parliamentary Advocacy
Participation in the Zimbabwe Social Forum.
The intervention is based on capacity building and
technical assistance to Residents Associations
More sharing is at the level of civil society where
Zimcodd works using the coalition concept
How inclusive was the
intervention?
The same issues are shared with regional networks
and international justice coalition with increased
interface in critiquing privatization policies,
international debt crisis, unfair trade regime and
regional integration as espoused by
NEPAD/Africa Union, World Trade Organization
(especially the General Agreement in Trade and
Services, SADC Trade Protocol, etc.)
Participation is centered on social movement
building, the development of informed citizen’s
groups.
Participation
Local leaders and opinion makers are also part of
the program.
Other Important Information or
Comments
Results and
Impact
What (if any) has been the impact
of the initiative? What have been
the incentives?
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The impact is difficult to measure given that the
project is still in its infancy and without adequate
resources. However, the project is becoming
popular with civic organizations and local
authorities.
Is the methodology or initiative
institutionalized? Are there any
institutional linkages and
partnerships been established with
the government, parliaments,
media, NGOs, communities etc.?
Describe.
(If applicable) Has the initiative
been scaled up? Repeated?
What were the main outcomes of
the SA initiative
Bottlenecks/Problems What
difficulties did the agency or NGO
face, and how did they resolve
them. (COMMENT: This section
will yield rich insights on
innovations that can be shared.)
Web sources
Documents and Reports
The initiative is institutionalized in Zimcodd. It
falls under the Policy and Advocacy Program. On
this project, Zimcodd works in liaison with the
Parliamentary Committee on Local Government
and National Housing. Zimcodd also works with
the Finance Committee in the Ministry of Finance
and Economic Development and the Ministries of
Local Government and Public Service, the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development,
Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social
Welfare.
Zimcodd also has international links with Institute
for Democracy IDASA (South Africa), the
International Budget Project (USA) and Christian
Aid (UK).
This linkage will be developed to facilitate
exchange study visits on the use of participatory
budgeting, score cards and alternative public
finance revenue sources.
The initiative will be scaled up. At the moment
focus is on conceptualization.
Zimcodd is profiling Municipal Debts. Research
work in progress on Municipal Budgets in three
main urban areas Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo.
Popular Budgeting is a welcome exercise.
However, there is no sufficient interaction between
research institutions, NGOs and residents. The
Zimcodd project has been failing to take off the
ground as a result of these bottlenecks especially
when there are financial constraints. Zimcodd is
making this effort a program with full time
researcher and involve a wide reference group of
players to make the project a success.
www.zimcodd.org
Mr. Davie Malungisa (Executive Director),
Further
References
Tel/ Fax 263-4-776830/31/35
dmalungisa@zimcodd.co.zw
zimcodd@zimcodd.co.zw
Resource Persons/Contacts
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