Community involvement as a strategy to enhance Integrated Development Planning Efficiency for effective service delivery in Mutale Municipality

Abstract

In this study, the researcher investigated community involvement as a strategy to enhance Integrated Development Planning efficiency for effective service delivery in Mutale Municipality, Limpopo Province.

To get a holistic view, a sample was drawn from the population of seventy (70) respondents from a range of stakeholders that include 10 officials of Mutale Municipality, 15 councilors, 11 secretaries of Ward Committees, 11 Community Development Workers (CDW), 5 civic associations members, 4 business people and 14 IDP forum n:1embers from Mutale community. Quantitative method, as instrument for collecting data was used in this study. A questionnaire in ( Appendix A), was handed out to Municipal officials, councilors, secretaries of Ward Committees, Community Development Workers, civic associations, business people and IDP forum members.

The main findings of this study are:

• There is a minimal representation of women, people living with Disabilities and youth in IDP and Ward Committees at Mutale Municipality. • Community involvement in IDP and Ward Committees is dominated by males, employed people and the degree and diploma graduates. • There are no IDP workshops to capacitate stakeholders on the usefulness, processes and importance of IDP in se�ice delivery. • IDP representative forum and Ward Committees are used for community involvement to enhance Integrated Development Planning for effective service delivery in Mutale Municipality. • Residents know about Ward Committees, but do not always attend meetings where service delivery issues are discussed.

• Community needs are not entirely identified by community members, but to some extent by councilors, Ward Committees and municipal employees. • Corruption plays a role in the implementation of projects in the municipality.

• Stakeholders are not afforded enough time to go through the Draft IDP documents.

• Community involvement in municipal affairs is poor.

• Government departments do not regularly attend IDP meetings.

The main recommendations of this study are:

• Improving representation in IDP forum and Ward Committee.

• Introducing IDP workshops for both municipal employees and community members.

• Consistency in community feed-back and report.

• Regular attendance of IDP representative forum meetings.

• Improving accountability.

• The need for efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.

• Improvement in community involvement in IDP processes and Ward Committees.

• Increasing engagement with Traditional Leaders.

• Introducing strategies for monitoring and evaluation of service delivery.

• Provision of adequate time to study Draft IDP documents.