Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Local Government Authority
Local Government Authority
Common names for local government entities include state, province, region,
department, county, prefecture, district, city, township, town, borough,
parish, municipality, shire and village.
In the case of Zanzibar, the 1964 revolution not only abolished the Monarchy
but also did away with the separation of the legislature, the executive and
the judiciary, fusing all their functions into a revolutionary council. Since the
promulgation of Zanzibar's first post-revolution constitution in 1979, Zanzibar
has, however, passed various pieces of legislation on local government. At
the moment, Zanzibar is developing a programme for local government with
the assistance of the United Nations.
Article 146 provides that one of the objectives of the local government is to
enhance the democratic process within its area of jurisdiction and to apply
the democracy for facilitating the expeditious and faster development of the
people.
(h) The Local Government Authorities (Decoration of Buildings) Act (Act No. 9
of 1968)
(i) The Regions and Districts (Establishment Procedure) Act (Act No. 12 of
1994)
Note: the Local Government Services Act 1982 has been repealed, recently.
In Zanzibar, the relevant part of the Constitution 1984 is Article 128. The
main legislation regarding Local Government are:
(b) Monitoring and controlling the performance of duties and functions of the
council and its staff.
(c) Ensuring the collection and proper utilization of the revenues of the
council
(g) Subject to the laws in force, doing all such acts and things as may be done
by a people's government.
They are responsible for the administration and development of urban areas
ranging from townships, municipalities and Cities.
The district and urban councils have autonomy in their geographic area.
District councils coordinate the activities of the township authorities and
village councils, which are accountable to the district for all revenues
received for day-to-day administration. The village and township councils
have the responsibility for formulating plans for their areas.
In addition, Section 29 of the Act provides for division of districts into wards.
As an administrative subdivision between the village and the district, the
ward reviews the proposed village council's projects in its jurisdiction and
approves them for passage up the line to the District Development
Committee.
The WDC also includes member(s) of the district council, who ordinarily
reside in the ward; and invitees from, for instance NGOs and other civic
groups involved in the promotion of development in the ward. However, the
invitees have no right to vote in the meetings. The WDC is responsible for
developing general development plans for the ward. Further, the WDC must
manage disasters and environmental related activities within its ward.
Apart from the DDC, there are other council committees. These committees
are for finance, administration and planning; education, health and water;
and economic affairs and environment.
B: URBAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
Section 8 and 25 (3) of Act No. 8 of 1982 provides for the establishment of City
Councils. City councils are composed of one member elected form each wards
within the city; the members of the Parliament representing constituencies
within the area of the city council; and not more than three (3) members
appointed from the residents of the city [section 24 (4)].
Section 47 of Act number 8 of 1982 provides for the establishment of the urban
authorities committees who are in charge of finance and administration;
economic affairs, health and education; and urban planning and environment.
The city council shall establish such committees as may be determined by the
minister in the order establishing it.
The objectives and functions of the urban authorities are provided for under
PART V & VI of Act number 8 of 1982. These functions include: facilitating the
maintenance of peace, order and good governance; and promoting the social
welfare and economic well-being of the local community. Urban authorities
are expected to further the social and economic development of their areas;
take the necessary measures for the suppression of crimes and protection of
public and private property; regulate and improve agriculture, trade,
commerce and industry; further and enhance health, education, and the
social, cultural and recreational life or of the people; and to eradicate
poverty and distress.
Urban authorities may, subject to the consent of the proper officers pass
applicable bylaws to their areas. [Sections 88-90 (1)] Urban authorities are
required to give public notice to the local inhabitants of the intention to
make the bylaws for comments [Section 90(1)]. After the expiration of the
notice, the draft bylaws must be submitted to the Minister for approval and
be gazetted.
It is important to note that the local governments are not replicated at the
regional level. However, regional commissioners, secretaries and officials
(who form Part of the regional administration), like the local governments,
are responsible to the Minister for Local Government and Regional
Administration. Normally, the regional authorities provide technical advice
and support and exercise supervision to the District councils. Under section 12
of the Regional Administration Act, 1997 [Act No. 19/1997], it is provided that
it shall be the duty of the Regional secretariat to facilitate the functions of
the local government authorities within the region. However, the experience
is that the regional administration can put heavy pressure on the local
authorities and veto their development plans and programmes.
The urban and district councils are made up of the members elected from
each ward; the MPs representing the constituency, within which the urban
area is situated and women members, appointed by the National Electoral
Commission from the proposals submitted by the political parties in
proportion to the number of elected positions held on the council (including
MPs). The number of women appointed to the council is not less than
one-third of ward representatives and the MPs combined.
Included in the membership of the city councils are all the Mayors from the
urban authorities within its jurisdiction, all MPs representing constituencies
within its area, at least two women MPs resident in the city and elected from
the women in parliament, and three councillors from each urban council, one
of whom must be a woman.
The head of the paid service is the District Executive Director in the district
authorities and the Town/Municipal/City Director in the urban authorities.
Typically, below the Director there are a number of Heads of Department.
The Departments are many and may include the following: personnel and
administration; planning and finance; engineering or works; education and
culture; trade and economic affairs; urban planning; health and social
welfare; co-operative, agriculture and livestock development; and
community development.
Central government appoints the chief officers through the process of open
bidding. City council directors are appointed by the president, while
directors of town, municipal and district councils are appointed by the
Minister. The Minister also appoints the heads of departments after a
recruitment process.
The responsibility to recruit and dismiss senior officers is, at the moment,
being devolved to local governments.
The most important, intended links between the local government and the
residents of the given area are the vitongoji in the rural areas and the urban
Mtaa committees, which are designed to mobilise citizen participation in
local development.
Priorities for local service delivery and development projects are brought to
the Mtaa committees for discussion before being forwarded to the Ward
Development Committee (WDC). In the rural system proposals reach the WDC
via the village council.
REVENUE
Local authorities can also raise revenue locally. The main sources of local
income come from:
(d) Charges including for refuse collection, cess, hire of vehicles, markets
(e) Fines
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"Without prejudice"