An Assessment of Regional Integrated Development Planning in Eswatini by Nonqaba Tebogo Keatimilwe Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters in Public Administration in the faculty of Economic and Management Science at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof. Zwelinzima Ndevu March 2021 i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third-party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT Regional integrated development planning was incorporated into policy to equally distribute development among administrative regions and rural and urban areas in Eswatini. While the goal was to reduce poverty, rural poverty has reduced at a slow pace for the population. This research was undertaken to evaluate the implementation of regional integrated development planning and to gain knowledge of the operational aspects. Research on integrated development planning in Eswatini largely focuses on implementation by urban subnational government. This investigation provides an overview of development planning by the Regional Government, which oversees Tinkhundla areas in rural Eswatini. For this reason, the entire decentralisation system was studied to understand government administration via the Tinkhundla System. The investigation included an analysis of the intergovernmental relations of all levels of government and the application of Eswatini Law and Custom in conjunction with Roman-Dutch Common Law. An exploratory, qualitative research approach was adopted. Primary data were collected from key informants through unstructured expert interviews. Secondary data from legislation, government reports and publications, as well as published and unpublished work on the topic were also collected for a comprehensive examination. Findings from this research pointed to a weak legislative framework, which has had adverse implications for integrated development planning at the Regional Level, subnational government reform, decentralisation management and policy coordination. Consequently, the major recommendations arising from the research are connected to the codification of Eswatini Law and Custom and the establishment of an enabling legislative framework, particularly the enactment of the Tinkhundla and Regional Administration Bill of 2014. Legislation is crucial for the creation of a legal basis to merge urban and rural subnational government, institutional reform of the decentralised system in Eswatini and elimination of operational ambiguity caused by Chieftaincy-related issues in the development process. iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za OPSOMMING Streekgeïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning is in beleid opgeneem om ontwikkeling eweredig onder administratiewe streke en landelike en stedelike gebiede in Eswatini te versprei. Terwyl die bedoeling was om armoede te verminder, is armoede in die landelike bevolking teen 'n uiters stadige tempo verlaag. Hierdie navorsing is onderneem om die implementering van streeks-geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning te evalueer om kennis oor die operasionele aspekte op te doen. Navorsing oor geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning in Eswatini is grootliks op implementering deur stedelike subnasionale regering gerig. Hierdie ondersoek bied 'n oorsig van ontwikkelingsbeplanning deur die plaaslike regering, wat toesig hou oor Tinkhundla- gebiede in landelike Eswatini. Om hierdie rede is die hele desentralisasiestelsel bestudeer om regeringsadministrasie via die Tinkhundla-stelsel te verstaan. Dit omsluit 'n ontleding van die interregeringsverhoudinge van alle regeringsvlakke en die tweeledige toepassing van Swati Wetgewing en Gewoonte in samehang met die Romeins-Hollandse gemenereg. ’n Ondersoekende, kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is toegepas. Primêre gegewens is met behulp van ongestruktureerde kundige onderhoude met belangrike informante versamel. Sekondêre gegewens uit wetgewing, regeringsverslae en publikasies, sowel as gepubliseerde en ongepubliseerde werk oor die onderwerp, is ook vir uitgebreide ondersoek ingesamel. Bevindinge uit hierdie navorsing dui op 'n swak wetgewende raamwerk wat nadelige gevolge gehad het vir geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning op streeksvlak en vir subnasionale regeringshervorming, desentralisasiebestuur en beleidskoördinering. Die belangrikste aanbevelings wat uit die navorsing voortspruit is gevolglik aan die kodifisering van Swati Wetgewing en Gewoonte en die daarstelling van wetgewende raamwerke gekoppel, veral die instelling van die Tinkhundla Wetsontwerp op Plaaslike Ontwikkeling en Administrasie van 2014. Wetgewing is van kardinale belang vir die skepping van 'n wetlike grondslag om stedelike en landelike subnasionale regering saam te smelt, vir die institusionele hervorming van die gedesentraliseerde stelsel in Eswatini en die opheffing van die bedryfsdubbelsinnigheid wat deur hoofmanskapverwante probleme in die ontwikkelingsproses ontstaan. iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the Lord Almighty for continuing to propel me. To my husband, Muzwandile Buthelezi, who had the front row seat in this tumultuous endeavour and assured, comforted, supported and encouraged me from day one: I appreciate you. I am eternally grateful to my mother, Girlie Dube-Sibiya, who sacrificed a lot for my education in building the foundation for any academic achievement I attain. My Uncle Onalenna and Aunt Dipuo Keatimilwe have loved me unconditionally and consistently showed me unwavering support. I hope that I have made them both proud. My siblings, Mayibuse, Msimisi, Nonsika, Sihlangu, Nomaqhawe, Mcondzisi and Yussuf inspired me to focus and persevere. My cousin Njabulo has believed in me since the day I decided that I was the one and only. His confidence in my ability makes me feel invincible. I am thankful for my friend Dala, who encouraged me when my enthusiasm to complete the project and morale was running low. I appreciate my research supervisor, Prof. Ndevu, who supported, counselled, and remained positive at every twist and turn. I would like to thank the Eswatini National Archives, University of Eswatini Library, Swaziana Section, and Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development for assistance during data collection. v Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DEDICATION For my husband, Muzwandile Buthelezi. My MVP. I am grateful for every single sacrifice you have made for this to be possible. vi Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... iii OPSOMMING ........................................................................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... v DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY ....................................................... 1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE ......................................................................... 1 1.2.1. MOTIVATION ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3. PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................. 4 1.4. RESEARCH PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................... 7 1.5. RESEARCH PARADIGM ........................................................................................... 8 1.5.1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 8 1.5.1.1. DATA COLLECTION ................................................................................... 8 1.6. SAMPLING ................................................................................................................ 10 1.7. DATA ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 10 1.8. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................ 11 1.9. CHAPTER OUTLINE ................................................................................................ 12 1.10. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 15 2.1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................