Mapping Residents’ Perceptions on the Challenges Confronting Participatory Budgeting Processes in Urban Municipalities in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Chitungwiza Municipality

Abstract

The studies on good governance in local authorities’ have taken a center stage in urban participatory and inclusive development debates. This is the case with particularly Participatory Budgeting (PB) in Chitungwiza Municipality he essence of PB is to afford citizens a direct role in governance activities in their areas. Local Government contexts offer the best conditions for participatory Budgeting in pursuit of good governance. A sample population of 70 respondents was used in this study. A mixed methods design was employed. Interviews, Focus Discussion Groups and a 5-point Likert scale survey questionnaire were used to gather the data. The central research question was on the challenges confronting participatory budgeting processes in Chitungwiza Municipality. Qualitative data was used to establish themes from which challenges were derived. Quantitative design was used to measure the extent of the identified challenges using a 5-point Likert scale. Data analysis was done using thematic analysis and Microsoft Excel was used to generate a table of results. The study found out 8 key challenges inhibiting good Participatory Budgeting processes in Chitungwiza Municipality. The study recommended for further research into how the identified challenges constrain the participatory budgeting processes in order to derive sustainable, effective and targeted solutions. 

Keywords: Participatory budgeting, Good governance, Local authorities

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-18-11

Publication date:June 30th 2020