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| The Autonomy, Operational Environment and Challenges of Township Authorities: A Case of Local Government Authorities in Tanzania |
Peter Evance. Mateso, Manumbu Hezrone. Daudi, Einstein Alexander Mwankupili
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Abstract:
For the past 20 years, Tanzania has been implementing Decentralization by Devolution (D by D) aimed at transferring decision-making powers, responsibilities and resource mobilization from the Central Government to the Local Government Authorities (LGAs). Township Authorities (TAs) are among such LGAs established under the Local Government (District Authorities) Act No 7 of 1982. The law establishing TAs give the authorities mandate to fulfil their obligations as autonomous body corporate. However; there have been complaints in different forums that TAs are choked in their operations by the existing organizational arrangement of the parent District Councils (DCs). The administrative and operational experiences of several TAs seem to deter the very intention of the law that establishes them, hence affecting their effectiveness in fulfilling their obligations. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to understand how the local government policy and legal framework as well as the operational environment support the autonomy and functions of Township Authorities in the study areas. Using qualitative research approach, data was collected through documentary review, focus group discussion, and in-depth interviews with purposely selected samples of leaders of the studied Councils; and then data was analysed qualitatively. The findings show that contrary to what the law requires and local government policy aspires, the autonomy of TAs is truly marginalized due to several factors. Also, although TAs' relevancy was positively endorsed by most respondents, the operational environment seems unsuitable for TAs' functions and growth. This situation is attributed to the adverse relationship between TAs and their parent DCs as well as the organizational structure of DCs that does not encourage autonomous endeavours of TAs. Moreover, a plethora of challenges were identified as strangulating performance, growth, and graduation of TAs into Town Councils. Eventually, this report proposes what can be done to address this alarming situation.
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