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Kasiya, Alinafe (2014) The interface between central and local interests in Malawi's democratic decentralisation : the case of Salima District Council. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/20298 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this PhD Thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This PhD Thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this PhD Thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the PhD Thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full PhD Thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD PhD Thesis, pagination. The interface between central and local interests in Malawi’s democratic decentralisation: The case of Salima District Council Alinafe Kasiya Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in Development Studies 2013 Department of Development Studies SOAS, University of London Declaration for PhD thesis I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the SOAS University of London concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work, which I present for examination. Signed: Date resubmitted after minor corrections: 5 June 2014 2 Abstract Malawi is pursuing democratic decentralisation with duo objectives to enhance democracy at the local level and to promote poverty reduction. These reforms are largely driven by bilateral and multilateral development agencies as part of the good governance agenda, which is polluted with varying interests. This thesis argues that while in principle democratic decentralisation is desirable the pre-requisites for making it work are absent in Malawi. To a certain extent this is due to the nature of the Malawi state, which conforms to the logic of the African neopatrimonial state with unique characteristics such as personalisation and concentration of power in the dominant patron, dominance of vertical over horizontal ties, and weak separation of public and private spheres. Democratic decentralisation threatens ruling elites by promising to create spaces at the local level where the opposition can thrive. As a result reforms are characterised by centralisation as the ruling elites try to protect power and access to state resources. These characteristics can be traced back to the colonial regime and the one party state both of which were heavily centralised. At the local level chiefs, and members of parliament with ruling party connections have captured reforms and are influential in the allocation of resources. In exchange for privileges and status these actors are increasingly being co-opted by the centre to extend its control of the local arena. The result is the superficial implementation of reforms, which may further entrench neopatrimonial characteristics of the state. In the absence of strong downward accountability development agencies can play a key role to push government towards reforms. Yet local and central interests make this an uphill task. This explains the partial implementation of reforms in Malawi. Key Words: Decentralisation, Neopatrimonial State, Centralisation, Local Capture, Malawi, Good governance 3 Table of Contents List of Illustrations ............................................................................................................ 6 Acronyms/ Abbreviations .............................................................................................. 7 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 9 1. Introductory chapter ............................................................................................. 11 1.1 Renewed excitement with decentralisation ........................................................ 11 1.2 Malawi, a country at crossroads with reforms ................................................... 14 1.3 Rationale and contribution of research ................................................................ 17 1.4 Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 18 1.5 Research Approach ...................................................................................................... 19 1.6 Definitions of Key terminology used in this study ............................................ 21 1.7 Outline of chapters ....................................................................................................... 23 2. The African Neopatrimonial State, Good Governance Agenda, and Decentralisation: Literature review ........................................................................ 25 2.1 Neopatrimonialism: Definition, origins, characteristics ................................ 26 2.2 Natural state- understanding the neopatrimonial state ................................. 34 2.3 Neopatrimonialism and the African State ............................................................ 37 2.4 Neopatrimonialism and developmental states .................................................. 47 2.5 Critique of Neopatrimonialism ................................................................................ 51 2.6 The era of governance, good governance and development ......................... 57 2.7 The problems with the concept- governance and good governance .......... 71 2.8 Decentralisation: Definition and Forms ............................................................... 81 2.9 Decentralisation and good governance ................................................................ 85 2.10 Neopatrimonialism and decentralisation ......................................................... 90 2.11 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 100 3. Neopatrimonial state in Malawi, and the history of decentralisation ... 104 3.2 Neopatrimonialism and ‘big men’ in Malawi .................................................... 105 3.3 Colonial rule, and the new experiments with decentralisation (1891- 1960) ......................................................................................................................................... 125 3.4 The era of the Single party state, 1961-1993: completing the circle ........ 131 3.5 The new promise for broad reforms, 1994-onwards ..................................... 140 3.6 The District Development Planning System: Planning from below .......... 152 3.7 District Development Planning System versus National Priorities .......... 164 3.8 Roles of the central actors in new reforms: Policy oversight and supervision .............................................................................................................................. 166 3.9 Capacity building for decentralisation ................................................................ 168 3.10 Resources for decentralised entities: Central Grants, and the Local Development Fund ................................................................................................................ 170 3.11 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 174 4. Methodology, Data Collection and the Context .............................................. 177 4.1 Research Approach: Qualitative case study ...................................................... 177 4.2 Selection of Salima district as the case study .................................................... 179 4.3 Data Collection Methods .......................................................................................... 181 4.4 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 192 4.5 Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................. 196 4.6 Limitations of the Study ........................................................................................... 198 4.7 Salima: Profile and context of the district .......................................................... 201 4.8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 208 5. More centralisation and capture: The case of Salima district .................. 210 5.1 Understanding of decentralisation in Salima district .................................... 211 4 5.2 Political context in Salima district ........................................................................ 213 5.3 Outlook of Local Government without councillors: Functions of key structures and actors ........................................................................................................... 217 5.4 Central Transfers on the up, but little control locally: The national picture 247 5.4.2 The Constituency Development Fund: Opportunity for local projects, or pocket money