Skip to main content

Sustainability in Africa: The Service Delivery Issues of Zimbabwe

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

This chapter is based on a study that sought to discuss the “human factor approach” (HFA) as the major lacuna for sustainability in the service delivery agenda and practice in Africa. Indeed, and of course, financial resources and equipment are often cited as the missing link for development and its sustainability, yet it takes the human factor content of personnel, beneficiaries, and stakeholders to safeguard integrity and put stringent measures against such malpractices as corruption and vandalism of property and estate, to say the least. Unfortunately, the major challenge of Africa’s development today is the missing right human factor content to guard against corruption and abuse of public resources for personal gain. Cases, narratives, and examples are drawn from the sectors including housing and urban land delivery, water and sanitation, irrigation and related cooperative projects. Zimbabwe is used as the primary geographical area of references.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Further Reading

  • Adjibolosoo, S. 1995. The Human Factor in Developing Africa. Westport: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2000. The International Development Program of Activities: What Are We Doing Wrong? Paper presented at the October 2000 CBFA Conference, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2006. Developing Civil Society: Social Order and the Human Factor. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayee, J.R.A. 2011. Social Inclusion and Service Delivery in a Fragile and Post-Conflict Environment in Africa, Occasional paper No. 15. Harare: The African Capacity Building Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, C., A. Forder, S. Sultan, and M. Moreno-Torres. 2004. Approaches to Improving the Delivery of Social Services in Difficult Environments, PRDE Working Paper 3. London: UK Department for International Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chêne, M. 2015. Zimbabwe. Overview of Corruption in the Health and Education Sectors and in Local Governments.(06).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chigwenya, A. 2010. Decentralization without Devolution and Its Impacts on Service Delivery: The Case of Masvingo Municipality in Zimbabwe. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 12 (1): 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chirisa, I. 2013. Building and Urban Planning in Zimbabwe with Special Reference to Harare: Putting Needs, Costs and Sustainability in Focus, Consilience. The Journal of Sustainable Development 11 (1): 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • City of Harare. 2016. State of the City Address - March 2016. Paper Presented at the Harare Council Board Meeting by the Harare Mayor, Harare. March 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewa, D., C. Dziva, and K. Mukwashi. 2014. Exploring Local Governance Challenges in Zimbabwe Under the Government of National Unity Era and Beyond. International Journal of Political Science and Development 2 (8): 188–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 2016. Socio-economic Impact of Smallholder Irrigation Development in Zimbabwe. http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5594e/X5594e15.htm. Web Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

  • Financial Gazette. 2014. Zimbabwe: Made Botches U.S $100 Million Deal. June 12. http://allafrica.com/stories/201406121446.html. Web Accessed 23 Mar 2016.

  • GoZ. 2013. Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation (Zim-ASSET). Government Printers: Harare.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2016. Zimbabwe 2016 Budget Statement. Harare: Government Gazette.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendry, C., M.B. Arthur, and A.M. Jones. 1995. Strategy Through People: Adaptation and Learning in the Small-Medium Enterprise. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauzya, J.M. 2007. The Human Factor in Global Governance: Leadership Capacity Development Perspective in Africa, Discussion Paper. United Nations, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangala, J. 2010. New Security Threats and Crises in Africa; Regional and International Perspectives. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mangizvo, V.R., and N. Kapungu. 2010. Urban Domestic Water Crisis in Zimbabwe: The Case of Kadoma City. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 12 (8): 254–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munzwa, K., and W. Jonga. 2010. Urban Development in Zimbabwe: A Human Settlement Perspective. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management 5 (14): 120–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsday Newspaper. 2016. Irrigation -The Ideal Solution to Droughts (online). Harare: Alpha Media Holdings. January 2. https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/01/27/irrigation-the-ideal-solution-to-droughts/. Web Accessed 24 Mar 2015.

  • Ong’ayo, A.O. 2008. Political Instability in Africa Where the Problem Lies and Alternative Perspectives. Presented at the Symposium. Afrika: een continent op drift. Amsterdam: The African Diaspora Policy Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretorius, D., and W. Schurink. 2007. Enhancing Service Delivery in Local Government: The Case of a District Municipality. SA Journal of Human Resource Management 3: 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pushak, N., and C.M. Briceño-Garmendia. 2011. Zimbabwe’s Infrastructure: A Continental Perspective. Washington, DC: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Recom. 2012. Urban Service Delivery in Africa (online). http://recom.wider.unu.edu/article/urban-service-delivery-africa-and-world-bank. Web Accessed 22 Mar 2016.

  • Rukuni, M. 2006. Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Revolution Revisited. Harare: University of Zimbabwe.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Chronicle. 2014. Turkey to Provide Mechanization, Irrigation Expertise to Zimbabwe (online). Harare: Zimpapers. June 28. http://www.chronicle.co.zw/turkey-to-provide-mechanisation-irrigation-expertise-to-zimbabwe/. Web Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

  • The Guardian. 2014. Helping Bulawayo Find a Viable Solution to Its Water Crisis I. March 2 2016. http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jul/07/bulawayo-solution-water-crisis.

  • The Standard Newspaper. 2016. Harare Water Crisis Cause for Concern. Harare: Alpha Media Holdings. February 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Un-Habitat. 2014. The State of African Cities 2014: Re-imagining Sustainable Urban Transitions. Nairobi: UN-Habitat

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimbabwe Independent. (online). 2014. Govt Must Root Out Entrenched Corruption. March 28. http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2014/03/28/govt-must-root-entrenched-corruption/. Web Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

  • Zimbabwe Independent Newspaper. (online). 2014. Infrastructure Development Key to Growth. November 17. http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2014/11/17/infrastructure-development-key-growth/. Web Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

  • Zinyemba, A., and R. Zinyemba. 2013. Service Delivery of Non-governmental Organizations in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Strategies. University of Zimbabwe Business Review 1 (1): 22–31.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Chirisa, I., Mukarwi, L., Matamanda, A.R. (2018). Sustainability in Africa: The Service Delivery Issues of Zimbabwe. In: Brinkmann, R., Garren, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Sustainability. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71389-2_37

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics