LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS SURVEY REPORT the Uncertainty of 2018
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS SURVEY REPORT The Uncertainty Of 2018 Local Government Elections Survey Report The Uncertainty Of 2018 Survey conducted by the ‘We Pay You Deliver’ Consortium Suggested citation: We Pay You Deliver Consortium. (2017). Local Government Elections Survey Report: The Uncertainty of 2018. Harare: Danish Church Aid. Design & Layout: Baynham Goredema (Xealos Design Consultants) Photography Sources: Jekesai Njikizana, KB Mphofu, Tafadzwa Tarumbwa WE PAY. YOU DELIVER! 33 Contents Key Findings and Messages 6 1. Introduction 12 2. Local Government Elections and Service Delivery 12 3. Methodology 13 4. Findings and Discussion 16 5. Conclusions and Recommendations 21 6. References 23 7. Annex 24 Acknowledgements 28 We Pay You Deliver Consortium Contacts 29 4 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS SURVEY REPORT THE UNCERTAINTY OF 2018 List of Abbreviations BPRA Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association CHITREST Chitungwiza Residents Trust CHRA Combined Harare Residents Association DCA Danish Church Aid GRF Gweru Residents Forum HRT Harare Residents Trust MDC Movement for Democratic Change MURRA Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance SDGs Sustainable Development Goals UMRRT United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust WPYD We Pay You Deliver ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front ZEC Zimbabwe Electoral Commission www.servicedelivery.co.zw WE PAY. YOU DELIVER! 55 Key Findings and Messages Methodological Note This survey was conducted by the We Pay You Deliver Consortium. The Consortium has eight organisations namely Danish Church Aid, Combined Harare Residents Association, Harare Residents Trust, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, Habakkuk Trust, Women’s Institute for Leadership Development, Zim- babwe Women Resource Centre Network and Diakonia. The survey covered six cities namely Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Gweru, Masvingo, Harare and Mutare. In particular, the survey focused on three issues con- cerning local government elections namely the context, awareness and expectations and process dynamics. A total of 91 enumerators conducted the fieldwork between August and October 2017. A total of 3,640 eligi- ble voters participated in the survey. By eligible voters, we refer to Zimbabwean citizens aged 18 and above. Councillor Performance Ratings and Voter Preferences The performance of sitting councillors was rated as poor by 44.7% of the respondents (Fig. 1). Political par- ties must therefore critically assess sitting councillors seeking re-election. Further, political parties are urged to evaluate the credentials of council candidates during primary elections. Such evaluation includes having party criteria for candidate selection which is competence and integrity based. Figure 1: Excellent Average Poor political parties are Councillor Mayor urged to evaluate the and mayor performance 9% 43.3% 47.7% performance rating credentials of council rating candidates during primary elections. Such Councillor performance 8.4% 46.9% 44.7% evaluation includes rating having party criteria 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% for candidate selection which is competence and integrity based. Based on the last 2 or 3 elections, more than 70% indicated that they did not change the party they voted for, for councillors. Such a voting behaviour points to an electorate with consistent voting preferences. Politi- cal parties enjoying such loyalty need to reciprocate by fielding competent council candidates committed to changing service delivery in cities. For the 2018 elections, envisaged voting preferences on councillors is split between the main political par- ties namely the MDC (23.3%) and ZANU-PF (15.1%). However, about 50% were afraid to answer the ques- tion (Fig. 2). From the above, both MDC and ZANU-PF will have councillors in cities. Thus, these parties are urged to prioritise council elections by fielding candidates with a traceable record of public service commit- ment or excellence in other sectors. 6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS SURVEY REPORT THE UNCERTAINTY OF 2018 parties are urged Figure 2: Voting preferences 12.1% to prioritise council on Councillors 23.3% Afraid to answer elections by fielding in the 2018 MDC elections 15.1% candidates with a Other Parties traceable record ZANU PF of public service commitment or 49.2% excellence in other sectors. Prioritisation of Local Government Elections and Role of Civil Society The State of Service Delivery Survey Report indicates that service delivery is in crisis. In sharp contrast, this survey shows that voters and political parties place low priority on council elections. In fact, about 14.4% pri- oritise council ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections (Fig. 3). More than 55% of the respondents think that political parties do not prioritise council elections (Fig. 3). Thus, as long as the electorate and politi- cal parties do not prioritise local government elections, our local authorities will remain in a deplorable state. Significant steps must therefore be undertaken to raise the profile of council elections. Figure 3: No Yes as long as the Prioritisation Political parties place high electorate and political of Council 57.1% 42.9% elections priority on parties do not prioritise council elections local government Harmonization of elections, our local elections affected the 46.9% 53.1% authorities will remain importance and in a deplorable state. prioritisation of council elections 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Significant steps must therefore be undertaken to raise the profile of council elections. While it is clear from the survey that neither the electorate nor political parties place high priority on coun- cil elections, civil society organisations (CSOs) are critical actors in raising the profile of such elections. The role of CSOs includes raising awareness on the importance of council elections to the electorate. In partic- ular, civil society awareness campaigns should link council elections to service delivery. Such an approach increases citizen literacy on the functioning of the local government system. Other civil society roles en- tail publishing and disseminating credentials of council candidates and organising community assessment meetings to evaluate councillors seeking re-election. WE PAY. YOU DELIVER! 77 Mayoral Functions and the Future About 47.7% rated the performance of city mayors as poor (Fig. 1). Political parties are therefore advised to critically invest in searching for talented and experienced candidates during primary elections to be elected mayors in the event of winning majority seats in cities. Further, it is urged that political parties have candi- dates with a proven track record to be appointed as Council Committee Chairpersons. This stems from the fact that Council Committees are a vital platform in council decision-making processes. More than 60% indicated that existing mayors do not have power to manage cities. In this regard, respondents prefer mayors with exec- utive powers. According to the survey findings, the key features of While it may be too late executive mayors preferred by respondents are: directly elected by for the 2018 elections; citizens, and powers to recruit senior council officials. While it may be political parties, CSOs too late for the 2018 elections; political parties, CSOs and the Govern- and the Government of ment of Zimbabwe should begin a process of putting a new frame- Zimbabwe should begin work to allow the election of executive mayors in 2023. a process of putting a Credibility of the Electoral Process new framework to allow the election of executive More than 65% of the respondents think that the 2018 elections will mayors in 2023. not be free and fair (Fig. 4). Respondents pointed three main indica- tors of a free and fair election as the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), absence of violence and the ability to campaign freely. Based on these, political parties and state institutions are urged to respect the law and guarantee the right of opposition parties to campaign freely respectively. The integrity and credibility of an electoral management body in the eyes of the electorate is fundamental in any functioning democracy. Despite this, about 65.7% do not trust ZEC as an election management body (Fig. 4). Therefore, significant public confidence building measures should be undertaken by ZEC. significant public Figure 4: No Yes Trust in Trust ZEC as an confidence building election ZEC and 65.1% 34.9% measures should be opinion on management the freeness body undertaken by ZEC. of the 2018 elections Opinion on the freeness and fairness of the 65.4% 34.6% 2018 elections 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Into the 2018 Elections According to eligible voters, the main campaign agenda for council elections should be centred on service delivery (67.7%) (Fig. 5). This emanates from the poor delivery of services being experienced by citizens in cities. Therefore, political parties and council candidates are encouraged to outline their plans in terms of resusci- tating service delivery in cities as part of their campaign agenda. 8 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS SURVEY REPORT THE UNCERTAINTY OF 2018 political parties and Figure 5: Main campaign 4% council candidates are agenda for council elections 17% Corruption in encouraged to outline councils their plans in terms of 68% Devolution of powers resuscitating service 11% and functions to delivery in cities as councils part of their campaign Service Delivery agenda. Other The three most important qualities voters look for when electing councillors