An Assessment of the Performance of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Harare South and warren Park Constituencies in Harare Province, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study sought to examine the effectiveness of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in promoting fiscal decentralisation in Zimbabwe. It was an exploratory study focusing on two constituencies Warren Park and Harare South. In this study 1 Member of Parliament, 2 Senators, 2 Councillors, 1 Former Minister, One Permanent Secretary, 26 Community members and 1 local development specialist were used as the research subjects. Questionnaires and Interview guides were used as research instruments. Available literature was also reviewed to provide contextual information. The study concluded that the CDF is a potentially transformative mechanism for fiscal decentralization. However, the design and management mechanism was weak and political aspirations affected effective execution of the mechanism. The study recommends that the CDF should be explored as a mechanism for promoting community driven development. It would also make it more effective if future designs for the Constituency Development Funds would include accountability mechanisms to ensure funds earmarked for community projects do not end up being administered by individuals... The CDF design should also ensure administration of the fund is not subservient to political interests and contestations. Finally it is recommended that Multi-stakeholder community committees should be constituted as pre-requisites for disbursement of CDF financing, these multi-stakeholder committees should have independent bank accounts with collective oversight.