EAZ – PUBLIC DISCUSSION December 4, 2008 THE ROLE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN DECENTRALISATION Presentation by: Dr. Peter Kaumba Lolojih

Democratic Decentralisation (Political decentralisation or Devolution) The transfer of powers and resources to sub-national authorities which are: (a) largely or wholly independent of the central government, and (b) democratically elected.

Local communities and Decentralisation  Involvement in the decision-making process – local communities make their own decisions through their local leaders  Problem solving – local communities are encouraged to find solutions to everyday problems >>> innovative ideas that are more in tune with local conditions  Community Driven Development – empowers local communities to exert influence over local governance/services

Requisite community characteristics Capacity to demand and support democratic government Realisation that communities are principal players and a source of political legitimacy in local administration Capacity, and the interest to hold local officials accountable Willingness to take responsibility in the process of public service delivery

AFROBAROMETER A comparative series of national attitude surveys on Democracy, Markets and Civil Society in Africa It is an independent, non-partisan research instrument that measures the social, political and economic atmosphere in Africa. Afrobarometer surveys are conducted in many African countries on a regular cycle. Because the instrument asks a standard set of questions, countries can be systematically compared and, ultimately, trends in public attitudes can be tracked over time. So far – 1999 (12 countries); 2003 (16 countries); 2005 (18 countries); 2008 (20 countries) - on going National probability sample >>> random selection methods; PPPS Funded through grants: National Science Foundation; SIDA; USAID; World Bank; ADB; Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; DFID Core Partners: MSU (USA); CDD (Ghana); IDASA (South Africa)

Zambians’ views on Democracy 73% of Zambians associated democracy with: - civil liberties/personal freedoms (33%) - Government by, for, of the people/popular rule (9%) - Voting/elections/multiparty competition (21%) - peace/unity/power sharing (4%) - Social/economic development (2%) - Equality/justice (1%) - Majority rule (1%) - Governance/effectiveness/accountability/rule of law (2%) - Don’t know/did not understand the question (20%)

Support for Democracy

Which of the following statements is closest to your view?  Statement A: We should choose our leaders in this country through regular; open and honest elections.  Statement B: Since elections sometimes produce bad results, we Should adopt other methods for choosing this country’s leaders.

Choosing leaders

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY

In your opinion, how much of a democracy is Zambia today?

Overall, how satisfied are you with the way democracy works in Zambia?

In your opinion, how likely is it that Zambia will remain a democratic country?

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Here is a list of actions that people sometimes take as citizens. For each of these, please tell me whether you, personally, have done any of these things during the past year.  Attended a community meeting?  Joined with others to raise an issue?  Attended a demonstration or a protest march?

Political Participation

Political Awareness of Incumbents

Can you tell me the name of your Member of Parliament?

Can you tell me the name of your Local Government Councillor?

FORMAL CONTACTING

During the past year, how often have you contacted a Local Councillor about some important problem or to give them your views?

During the past year, how often have you contacted a Member of Parliament about some important problem or to give them your views?

During the past year, how often have you contacted an official of a Government Ministry about some important problem or to give them your views?

INSTITUTIONAL TRUST

How much do you trust each of the following, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say: your elected Councillor?

SELECTED VIEWS ON CORRUPTION How many of the following people do you think are involved in corruption, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say?

Elected Councillors?

Local Government Officials?

Putting it all together Sufficient demand for democracy Inadequate supply of democracy Insufficient interaction between communities and local officials Somewhat low levels of institutional trust (Councillors) Inadequate and unreliable local authority financing General dissatisfaction about local authority performance (communities) Some resistance to fulfil statutory obligations in a timely manner (communities)

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Some Ideas Enhance the appreciation of democratic decentralisation (political decentralisation, or devolution) in MDAs, and communities Statutory prescription for minimum levels of formal interaction between elected Councillors and their constituents (communities) Enhance the supply of democratic governance at the local authority level Ensure adequate appreciation of the principal role of communities in democratic decentralisation Assist communities to articulate their interests, carry out their mandates and responsibilities >> effectively participate as citizens in democratic processes Ensure sufficient resources to anchor the process of decentralisation

For More Information on Afrobarometer: including downloadable versions of questionnaires, data sets, results and publications see

You can also contact: Dr. Peter Kaumba Lolojih at Tel: (Office); (Home) Mobile:

THANK YOU