Abstract
This study investigated the factors influencing service delivery trends in the Mutare City
Council in Zimbabwe. The main purpose of the research was to conceptually, contextually
and empirically investigate the nature and scope of devolved local government service
delivery post-2013 in Zimbabwe and the City of Mutare in particular, to determine how the
effectiveness of local governance in Zimbabwe can be improved. The study provided an
integrated focus on the context of the service delivery challenges and incorporated
selected inputs, activities, service delivery functions, milestones, targets, assumptions,
and outcomes in order to ensure sustained compliance to the spirit and requirements of
the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013.
The study was exploratory and descriptive in nature, and as a result adopted a
triangulated qualitative research approach. The research method also entailed a
documentary analysis by way of a historical comparative analysis from 2016 to 2020. The
triangulation of data-collection methods included primary sources (interviews and a
survey questionnaire) and secondary sources (literature and documentary sources). The
study provided an integrated focus on the context of the service delivery challenges and
incorporated selected inputs, activities, service delivery functions, milestones, targets,
assumptions, and outcomes in order to ensure sustained compliance to the spirit and
requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013.
The study found that there are ever-increasing challenges related to service delivery in
Zimbabwe local government, particularly in the case of Mutare City Council. This situation
can be attributed inter alia to a lack of proper legislative provision at a national level, lack
of institutional objectives, complicated cooperative governance processes, insufficient
funds as well as lack of a proper implementation strategy service delivery.
Keywords: Accountability; development; devolution; good governance; local
government; Zimbabwe; service delivery.