Responding to Decentralization Acrobatics in Tanzania: Subnational Actors Examined1
Abstract
The experience of decentralization reforms in Tanzania is dramatic depicting the state of decentralizing but subsequently of recentralizing. Following the adoption of decentralization by devolution policy in 1998 hopes for the end of about four decades history of undermining local governments raised-up. However, the process of decentralization of powers has largely remained on paper characterized by policy reversals and sluggish implementation. This article employs the political approach to explain why the process of decentralization in Tanzania has stalled. It examines the extent to which sub-national actors: the local government councillors, the citizenry and civil society organizations (CSOs) are pressing for decentralization of powers. Based on evidence from in-depth and semi-structured interviews in two districts as well as a documentary analysis of the activities of five national level CSOs, it is revealed that the absence of popular pressure for local government autonomy has created a leeway for the central government to stall the decentralization process.References
Adamolekun, L. 1991. "Decentralization Policies: Problems and Perspectives", Asian Journal of Public Administration 13, 1: 67-92.
Adeyemo, D.O. 2005. "Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: A Historical Perspective", Journal of Social Science 10, 2: 77-87.
Afrobarometer, 2009. "The quality of Democracy in Africa: New Results from Afrobarometer Round 4," Afrobarometer Working Paper No. 108.
Bradley, A. W. 1967. "Local Government in Tanzania", Paper presented to the Political Science Seminar, the University College of Dar es Salaam.
Chaligha, A. 2003. "Local Autonomy and Citizen Participation in Tanzania: From a Local Government Reform Perspective", REPOA Special Paper 08.26. Dar es salaam: Mkuki and Nyota Publishers.
Donaldson, L. 2001. The Contingency Theory of Organization. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Eaton K., Kaiser, K., and Smoke, P. J. 2010. The Political Economy of Decentralization Reforms: Implications for Aid Effectiveness. Washington DC: The World Bank.
Eduardo, C. 2001. "Municipal Decentralization and Participatory Democracy: Building a New Mode of Urban Politics in Montevideo City?," European Review of Latin America and Caribbean Studies, Vol. 71: 25-46.
Eyakuze, E. 2006. "Hindsight 20/20: The Advocacy Learning Document Produced by the Policy Forum", www.policyforum-tz-org, (accessed: July 24, 2009).
Falleti, T.G. 2005. "A Sequential Theory of Decentralization: Latin American Cases in Comparative Perspective", American Political Science Review 99, 3: 327-46.
Foundation for Civil Society. 2008. "The Foundation News," The Foundation for Civil Society News Letter issue No. 19.
Fritzen, S. A. and Lim, P.W. 2006. "Problems and Prospects of Decentralization in Developing Countries". Encyclopaedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, 1-9.
Gaventa, J. and Valderrama, C. 1999. "Participation, Citizenship and Local Governance", In Background note for the Workshop "Strengthening Participation in Local Governance" University of Sussex, IDS, 21-24June.
Hakielimu . 2005. Annual Report. Dar es Salaam: Hakielimu.
Hakielimu. 2004. Annual Report. Dar es Salaam: Hakielimu
Kauzya, J. 2005. "Decentralization: Prospects for Peace, Democracy and Development, New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Mimeo).
Kiggundu, M. 2000. "Decentralization" in Mukandala R.S., (ed). African Public Administration: A Reader. Harare: AAPS.
Larson, A.M., 2005. "Democratic decentralization in the Forestry Sector: Lessons Learned from Africa, Asia and Latin America". In:Capistrano, D., Pierce Colfer, C.J. (eds). The Politics of Decentralization: Forests, Power and People. London: Earthscan/James and James.
Leadership Forum. 2007. Annual Report. Dar es Salaam: The Leadership Forum.
LHRC. 2006. "Sheria Mbaya 40 Zilizotajwa na Tume ya Jaji Nyalali". Dar es Salaam: Kituo Cha Sheria na Haki za Binadamu.
Magno, F.A. 2001. "Forest Devolution and Social Capital: State-Civil Society Relations in the Philippines", Environmental History 6, 2: 264-86.
Makulilo, A. B. 2008. Tanzania: A De Facto One Party State? Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag Germany.
Manor, J. 1999. The Political Economy of Democratic Decentralization. Washington DC: World Bank.
Max, J.A.O. 1991. The Development of Local Government in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam: Educational Publishers and Distributors.
Mmari, D.S.M. 2005. "Decentralization for Service Delivery in Tanzania", Paper Presented to the Conference on Building Capacity for the Education Sector in Africa, 12-14 October.
Mukandala, R. S. 2000. "Decentralization, Participation and Power in Tanzania" in Mukandala, R.S. (ed). African Public Administration: A Reader. Harare: AAPS.
Mutahaba, G. 1989. Reforming Public Administration for Development: Experience from Eastern Africa. Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press.
Mwakusa, J.T. 1994 "The Local Government Policies in Tanzania: The Political Guinea Pig" in Rothchild, D. (ed). Strengthening Africa Local Initiative: Local Self-governance, Decentralization and Accountability. Hamburg: Institute of African Affairs.
National Electoral Commission. 2005. Ward Election Results (Candidates). Dar es Salaam.
Ngware, S.S. A. and Haule, M. 1992. The Forgotten Level: Village Government in Tanzania. Hamburg: Institute of African Affairs.
Oyugi, O. W. 1997. "Decentralization Policy and its Implementation in Postindependence Africa: An Analysis". Paper Presented at the 18th Round Table Conference of African Association of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), Nairobi. 17-21March.
Pastory, P. 2010. "The Dynamics of Public Struggle for Local Government Autonomy in the Post-1990 Tanzania: Cases of Kinondoni and Muleba Districts, M.A. Dissertation: University of Dar es salaam.
Policy Forum. 2008a. Annual General Meeting Report. Dar es Salaam: Policy Forum.
Policy Forum. 2008b. SERA Vol. 2 issue 1 April 2008.
Policy Forum. n.d. "Local Government Working Group". http://www.policyforum-tz.org/ (accessed: July 25, 2009).
Pollit, C. 2005. "Decentralization", in Ferlie, E., L.E. Lynn Jr., and C. Pollit (eds). The Oxford Handbook of Public Management. New York : Oxford University Press.
Ribot, J. C. 2002. "African Decentralization: Local Actors, Powers and Accountability" Democracy, Governance and Human Rights Paper Number 8. Geneva: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.
Rondinelli, D. A. and Cheema, G.S. 1984. "Decentralization in Developing Countries: A Review of Recent Experience". World Bank Staff Working Papers, No. 581. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Rutinwa, B. and Shivji, I.G. 2006. "Building Consensus on the Policy of Decentralization by Devolution and Methodologies for Harmonization of Sector Policies and Legislations". Dar es Salaam: The Local Government Reform Program.
Scholz, I. 1997. "Promotion of Local Self-Government in Africa as a Task of the Konrad Andenauer Foundation: Experiences and Prospects" in Hofmeister, W. and I. Scholz, I. (eds). Traditional and Contemporary Forms of Local Participation and Self-Government in Africa. Johannesburg: KonradAdenauer-Shifting.
Scott, W. R. 1992. Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems. N. J, Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Semboja, J. and Therkildsen, O. 1991. Handbook on District Level Administration in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam: Education Publishers and Distributers.
Shah, A. and Thompson, T. 2004. "Implementing Decentralized Local Governance: A Treacherous Road with Potholes, Detours and Road Closures." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 3353. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Shivji, I. and Maina, P.C. 2003. The Village Democracy Initiative Report. Dar es Salaam: Prime Minister ' s Office Regional Administration and Local Government
Steiner, S. 2005. "Decentralization and Poverty Reduction: A conceptual Framework for Economic Impact", DUI GOI Working Paper No. 03.
Triesman, D. 2007. The Architecture of Governance: Rethinking Political Decentralization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
UN-Habitat. 2002. Local Democracy and Decentralization in East and Southern Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.
URT(United Republic of Tanzania) and UN-Habitat. 2006. Training Impact Evaluation of the Tanzania National Program for Councillors Training, http://cn.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4640_45699_Final%20TZ%2 0Report%2028-8-06.pdf (accessed: 26.8. 2013).
URT, 1991. Presidential Commission on Single or Multiparty Political System. Da es Salaam: Government Printer.
URT, 1998. "Local Government Reform Programme: Policy Paper on Local Government Reform". Dar es salaam: Government Printer.
URT, 1999. The Presidential Committee: A Report of the Collection of Views on the Constitution. Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
URT, 2005. "Joint Government Donor Review", Dar es Salaam: Prime Minister ' s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government.
URT, 2007a. "Joint Government-Development Partner Programme Evaluation Report". Dar es salaam: Prime Minister ' s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government.
URT, 2007b. "The Relationship between the Political Leadership and Administrative Staff", Booklet 3, PO-RALG: Dodoma.
World Bank, 2003. "Decentralization in Africa: Emerging Trends and Progress", www.worldbank.org/afr/findings (accessed: 18.5.2008).
Wunsch, J. S. 2001. "Decentralization, Local Governance and ' Recentralization in Africa", Public Administration and Development 21, 4:277-88.
Wunsch, J.S. and Olowu, D. 1990. "The Failure of Centralized State" in Wunsch, J. and Olowu, D (eds) The Failure of Centralized State: Institutions and SelfGovernance in Africa. Boulder: West view Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © by Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for short extracts in fair dealing, for research or private study, critical scholarly review or discourse with an acknowledgement.
The African Review: A Journal of African Politics, Development and International Affairs [ISSN 0856-0056 (Print) & ISSN 1821-889X (Online)] is published bi-annually, June and December by the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35042 €“ Dar es Salaam €“ Tanzania
