Impact of Corporate Governance on Service Delivery in Murewa Rural District Council (MRDC), Zimbabwe

Abstract

Past studies on corporate governance sought to outline the best practices in corporate governance and other related areas. However, a study on the impact of corporate governance on service delivery in rural local authorities, especially Murewa Rural District Council (MRDC) has never been done.  Data was collected through questionnaires administered to MRDC management, staff, District Administrator and the Council Committee while a focus group discussion was held with MRDC staff and the Council chairperson. The study established that corporate governance has an impact on service delivery. The study also established that corporate governance at MRDC is hindered by structural and deliberate factors. Structural factors were policy and national in nature while deliberate factors were administrative and could be solved at local level. The study also noted that, Murewa RDC is doing its best in trying to adhere to best practices in corporate governance regardless of the militating factors.  The research recommends that government should take a deliberate stance in resolving militating factors by coming up with minimum qualifications for councillors and a quota system for women representation in Council. There is a feasibility of coming up with a Code of Corporate Governance for Local Authorities in Zimbabwe.

Keywords: Agency, corporate governance, rural local authorities, service delivery, stakeholders, Zimbabwe.