Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch Univeristy, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Decentralisation is a growing phenomenon worldwide. However, the detail of its
implementation determines whether desired objectives are achieved or not. The thesis
extensively interrogates this concept from economic, philosophical and political
theoretical perspectives, with emphasis on the economic rationale. An international
perspective has also been utilised for informing the investigation. Reference is made,
in this regard, to both federal and unitary states of the developed and developing
world.
Botswana, a unitary and developing African country, has been found to be facing
more or less the same challenges that undermine the desired benefits of fiscal
decentralisation in all developing countries. However, political maturity (which is a
prerequisite for decentralisation reforms) - a predictably stable commodity in
Botswana -sets it apart from most other developing, if not all, African countries.
With regards to decentralisation, a number of considerations framed the analysis.
Firstly, the established consecutive approach to Botswana 's centralised economic
planning and management has been found to be counter-productive to the financial
decentralisation process. This has resulted in an over-regulated local public sector
that is not conducive for taking stock of local initiative and being innovative in local
affairs, mainly due to an ambiguous institutional framework. Secondly, an ad hoc
financial transfer mechanism, that is neither stable nor predictable, clearly
undermines integrated financial management and strategic fiscal planning at
municipal level. Thirdly, a one-size-fits-all approach to the assignment of expenditure
responsibilities to all municipalities, small and large, as well as urban and rural,
serves as another constraint. Finally, a lack of stable and buoyant sources of own
revenues, as well as inadequate capacity to utilise fully the already existing internal
revenues, has created grant economies that survive on a principle of beggar-thyneighbour
to actualise their mandates. This? in turn undermines their? significance
for the electorates at local level who turn to the national government even for minor
local issues that should be addressed within the areas of local jurisdiction.The thesis concludes with recommendations regarding a redesign of the institutional
framework, intergovernmental financial transfers, expenditure assignments and
generation of internal revenue.
It is critically important that the Government of Botswana should develop a strong
policy framework, build a strong consensus within the political and bureaucratic
circles and coordinate and integrate these reforms through strong capacity-building
mechanisms at local governments. Finally, the capacity of the national government to
monitor the process cannot be overemphasised. That is, the decentralisation process
should initially be centralised with gradual decentralisation processes to allow for
flexibility well aware of the fact that decentralisation structures are always in
transition. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Desentralisasie is wel 'n wereldwye verskynsel, maar suksesvolle implementering
vereis aandag aan detail. Die desentralisasiekonsep word in hierdie tesis grondig
ondersoek vanuit 'n ekonomiese, filosofiese, sowel as politieke perspektief. Die rol
van ekonomiese beginsels in die desentralisasieproses geniet spesiale verwysing. Om
die ondersoek so omvattend moontlik te maak is internasionale bronne geraadpleeg,
afkomstig vanuit sowel federale as unitere state asook uit ontwikkelde en
ontwikkelende lande.
Botswana, 'n ontwikkelende Afrika land met 'n unitere staatsvorm, ondervind
uitdagings wat, soos in enige ander ontwikkelende land, die voordele van fiskale
desentralisasie ondermyn. Politieke volwassenheid en stabiliteit is van die
voorvereistes waaraan 'n staatsbestel moet voldoen om desentralisasie suksesvol toe
te pas. Gelukkig skiet Botswana in die opsig geensins tekort nie, inteendeel, dit is juis
hierdie eienskap wat hom van die meeste - indien nie alle ander - Afrikalande
onderskei.
Heelwat oorweging is geskenk aan die bepalende faktore rondom desentralisasie.
Botswana se gevestigde gesentraliseerde ekonomiese beplanning- en bestuurstelsel is
gei'dentifiseer as die belangrikste teenproduktiewe struikelblok wat die finansiele
desentralisasieproses ontspoor. Kenmerkend van 'n sentralistiese institusionele
raamwerk is 'n oorgereguleerde plaaslike openbare sektor wat nie die skep van eie
inisiatief en ondernemende bestuur bevorder of ag op die belangrikheid daarvan
slaan nie. Tweede in belangrikheid is 'n onstabiele, ad hoc finansiele
oordragmeganisme waarop daar nie peil getrek kan word nie en wat pogings om
gei'ntegreerde finansiele bestuurspraktyke en strategiese fiskale beplanning op
munisipale vlak te vestig, belemmer. Die derde hindernis is die owerhede se
onwilligheid om te besef dat daar geen pasklare benadering bestaan wat by al die
uiteenlopende tipes (in terme van grootte en ligging, plattelands tot stedelik) plaaslike
besture verantwoordelik bestedingspraktyke sal vestig nie. Laastens is 'n wydlopende
gebrek aan stabiele en lewenskragtige, eie inkomstebronne, sowel as onvoldoende
kapasiteit om reeds beskikbare, interne belastinginkomste doeltreffend aan te wend,
nadelig vir plaaslike regering. Pogings om te verseker dat 'n eie plaaslike raad so 'n
groot as moontlike toekenning uit die staatskas ontvang, veroorsaak dat aanliggende
rade dan nie hulle regmatige deel ontvang nie. Plaaslike rade se oormatige
afhanklikheid van die sentrale regering vir finansiele oorlewing, ondermyn die
legitimiteit van plaaslike politici. Laasgenoemde soek gewoon te maklik die oplossing
vir 'n plaaslike probleem by die sentrale regering, eerder as om dit self aan te durf
Die tesis sluit met aanbevelings oor 'n herontwerpte institusionele raamwerk wat kan
lei tot sinvoller finansiele tussenregeringsoordragte, taakgedrewe uitgawes en die
skepping van eie, interne belastingbron.
Dit is van kritieke belang dat die regering van Botswana 'n stewige beleidsraamwerk
ontwikkel en dan konsensus daaroor verkry tussen die politici en burokrasie. Die
integrasie en ko-ordinasie van hierdie hervormings kan slegs geskied indien dit
gepaard gaan met lewenskragtige kapasiteitsontwikkeling op plaaslike bestuursvlak.
Die sentrale regering sal egter eweneens eie kundigheid moet ontwikkel om die proses
te monitor, want die desentralisasieproses sal aanvanklik vanaf die middelpunt
geskied en geleidelik uitkring. Dit sal buigsaamheid en begrip verg omdat
desentralisasie in wese voortdurende oorgang impliseer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/85388 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Kwada, Zachariah Daniel |
| Contributors | Burger, A. P. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 214 p. : maps |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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