The importance of effective local government in advancing national development could never be over emphasised as it is increasingly being recognised as a key tool in combating poverty and addressing rural under development.
Therefore, enhancing local governance should be a priority in any development strategy and policy.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Kay Patterson, in a speech to the Commonwealth Government Forum Conference, Brisbane 5 October 2001noted:
“………I strongly support the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), and your work in promoting and strengthening democratic local government in Commonwealth countries.”
“To demonstrate this support, the Australian Government has funded 11 delegates to attend the 2001 CLGF conference.”
“The Forum is one of the many important agencies and organisations that together give so much vitality to the Commonwealth of Nations.”
“Successive Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings have reiterated the importance of effective, elected local government as a foundation for democracy.”
“They have explicitly recognised the valuable role played by the CLGF in promoting democratic values and best practice in local government.”
“The Australian Government considers the CLGF to be an important institution for strengthening action among Commonwealth member states on local government structures.”
“A healthy, inclusive local government structure is at the heart of an active democracy. This is the level at which citizens most engage – or disengage – with decision-making.”
“Local government can play a central role in reducing poverty, through local economic development, effective community planning and improved service delivery.”
“More broadly, enhancing the capacity and performance of local government can generate major benefits, both within the sector and in the wider economy. These include:
* benefits to local communities through more efficient and hence expanded essential services and infrastructure, as well as increased local employment opportunities
* benefits to provincial and national governments through more efficient allocation of public sector resources
* benefits to the private sector and national economy, through increased investment opportunities and more efficient use of resources generally.”
Local governments because of their closeness to the communities are the ideal bodies to play the leading role in identifying the weaknesses in rural development and formulating solutions to existing the difficulties and challenges
A group of experts at a Thin-Tank meeting in Norway in June 2001 pointed out :
“Local governments can provide governance and respond to the needs of their communities , thus creating a positive, cumulative effect on global environment, economic and social conditions despite jurisdictional and other barriers which continue to hamper sustainable development efforts. Local governments need to be key components of national sustainable development strategies if such plans are to succeed.”
They added: “In the past ten years, local governments have built on their inherent strengths to become a champions and facilitators of sustainable development. Their success is due to their position as the sphere of government closest to the people and best able to enhance both efficiency and democratic accountability. Local governments have developed participatory, multi-stakeholder strategies to implement sustainable development.”
A paper by David Everatt Lulu Gwagwa showed how effective local government could help to accelerate rural development :
“South Africa has a rich history of community-based development which provides a strong foundation for community-driven development
(CDD). With the advent of the democratic era in 1994, Government has pursued an explicit strategy to formulate public policy, plan and establish
fiscal frameworks that are directly supportive of community empowerment.”
“The frameworks that have been put in place to allow the local sphere to support community empowerment are impressive. Local councils are
subject to validation through regular access to free and fair elections. Local government jurisdictions now cover 100 percent of South Africa’s land
area and all residents of the country, and the 284 local governments are explicitly tasked with responding to most service and infrastructure demands “
of communities. The planning process of the public sector is driven by Integrated “Development Plans (IDPs) that are intended to be based on
extensive consultation with communities. The country’s medium term planning process plays out in all local government jurisdictions and affords
all citizens the opportunity to influence the allocation of public resources to meet community demands. The intergovernmental fiscal framework
supports both the governance structure and the IDP process by making predictable and transparent allocations of both unconditional and conditional
grants to local governments to meet community demands. In 2003/4 more than US$2 billion in grants were made available to local governments.”
Against this backdrop the announcement by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall of stricter monitoring of Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCS) to ensure maximum benefits from financial resources is welcome and a step forward.
Efficient use of finances is a key in ensuring there is no wastage as well as helping to broadening the development spread in rural communities.
“We will be monitoring these Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) aggressively to ensure full accountability, so that tax-payers’ money is spent in a responsible manner. We must get our money’s worth,” the minister declared.
Certainly, the financial discrepancies in these bodies are becoming increasingly common and they have to be curbed because in a developing society like ours financial resources are scarce but there are many “holes” to be filled.
Another aspect the Ministry should focus on is professional training for personnel in these bodies because it is clear that many are not adequately equipped to discharge their responsibilities with optimum effectiveness and efficiency. Therefore, it is hoped that after the new dispensation following the conclusion of the local government elections this year closer attention will be paid to this crucial aspect of local governance.