Stanford Jacha

Civil Society and Urban Council Relations: Uneasy Bedfellows: the Case of Kariba Town Council and the Rate Payers Association in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe Stanford Jacha

Jacha's dissertation seeks to study issues related to relationships between civil society and urban councils in Kariba Town of Zimbabwe, which were perceived to be that of uncomfortable bedfellows. Jacha explores the relationship in 2005 as political heat gathered to reach its infamous climax in 2008. In Kariba, civil society was being excluded from local government political processes such as decision-making and the formulation of policy objectives. He concludes that without empowerment, civil society cannot make a genuine contribution to urban local governance. The study is an interesting prelude to one aspect of the conflict existing just before 2008, and gives a clear example of the political problems leading to the major conflicts which at that time were becoming gravely inevitable, and are today the highlight of Zimbabwe's turmoil.