Local governance

Classifications of Local Governments

Definition of terms

The Ward is a political and administrative structure from which councilors are elected. Administratively, the Ward functions under the Ward Executive Officer (WEO). The WEO is competitively appointed by the Council to control administrative functions at the Ward level.

VEO is Village Executive Officer is the competitively appointed by the village council to administer the village.

MEO- Is Mtaa Executive OfficerDED- of thDistrict Executive Director is chief secretary e

district council.

Definition of related terms

• The Council is the supreme elective structure which formulates and approves by-laws, the budget and other development programs. It is made up of councilors who are elected by the citizens residing in the Wards. The council is a body that promotes representative democracy

Definition of terms

• Local government can be defined as government administers a specific area such as village, towns, or districts mostly through area’s inhabitant’s representatives.

• Local Governments are the level of government that are closest to the people and therefore responsible for serving the political and material needs of people and communities at a specific area it can be city council, municipal, town, district or village.

Local governments

• Maddick (1963) defines local government as a sub-unit of government controlled by a local council which is authorized by the central government to pass ordinances having a local application, levy taxes or exact labor and within limit specified by the central government, vary centrally decided policy in applying it locally.

• Local government- is an administrative body for a small geographic area, such as a city, town, county, or state

Classifications of LGAs

i. Urban authorities - these are responsible for the

administration and development of urban areas.

They range from townships, municipalities and

cities.

ii. Rural authorities – these are commonly known

as District Councils. They include district

councils, ward and village/mitaa councils.

The objectives and functions of the urban authorities

• facilitating the maintenance of peace, order and good governance;

• promoting the social welfare and economic well-being of the local community.

• further the social and economic development of their areas

• take the necessary measures for the suppression of crimes and protection of public and private property;

The objectives and functions of urban authorities

• regulate and improve agriculture, trade, commerce and industry

• further and enhance health, education, and the social, cultural and recreational life or of the people

• eradicate poverty etc

The district council

• It is sometimes called the rural council (authorities)

• These are the authorities formed under Local Government (District Authorities) Act no 7 of 1982. This act is responsible for the administration and development of rural authorities such as villages

• (composition -edit ) add….

Composition

• The district council is composed of

• Elected members or councilors ,one from each ward in the district.

• MPs in the district

• A chairperson who is assisted by vice chairperson heads a district council

The district council

• The chief executive of the council is the district Executive Director(DED)

• The chairperson and vice chairperson of the council are elected by councilors among themselves

• Village government and district councils falls under district authority

The ward council

• A ward is an administrative sub-division between the village and the district

• At the ward level there is Ward Development Committee (WDC) which is established by Local Government (District authorities) Act of 1982 as amended by Act NO. 6. of 1999

The village government

• Village is the smallest local government unit. It has village council and a village assembly.

• The village council is the executive arm of the village assembly. A village chairperson who assisted by village secretary heads it. Village assembly consisting of all persons aged 18 and above

Functions and roles of the village council

a.Planning and coordinating activities

b.Rendering assistance and advice to the villagers engaging in agriculture, forestry, industrial or any other activity.

c. Encourage village residents to undertake and participate in communal activities.

Functions and roles of the village council

d. Also to propose by-laws in the function of the village council done by the village assembly.

e. To maintain peace, order and good governance

f. To promote social welfare and economic well-being of its people, furtherance of social and economic development in its area

Committees of the village government

These committees are:

Finance, economic and planning committee

Social service committee

Defense and security committee

Village committees cover matter such as planning, finance, economic affairs, social services, security, forest protection, water resources etc

The councilors

• Who are the councilors ?

• What are their responsibilities?

Responsibilities of the councilors

• To make decisions on the objectives of their authorities and plan to attain them.eg approve annual budget and make by- laws.

• To direct and control the affairs of local government in their authorities

• To review periodically, and mainly through standing committee of their authorities ,progress and performance of the development programs to provide essential services

Town council

• Composition: Members (councilors)elected from each ward in respective town

• MPs of the constituency in the town• National MPs residing in town• A chair person who assisted by vice –chairperson

heads each council. Members from among elected councilors elect both the chairperson and vice –chairperson. The chairperson holds office for a term of five years.

• The chief executive of the town council is the Town Director (TD).The TD is the secretary to the council but he has no voting rights at any councils meeting

Municipal Council

• Municipalities are towns that have population over 80,000 residents each.

• Members that form the municipal council are the councilors ,MPs of constituency in the municipal and National MPs residing in the municipality

Municipal council

• A mayor who is assisted by a deputy mayor heads a municipal council. The members elect both the mayor and the deputy mayor among the elected councilors . like a town council ,the municipal has a municipal Director who serves as chief executive and secretary to the council

City Council

• Dar es salaam,Mwanza,Arusha,Tanga and mbeya cities Tanzania has.

• Members of city council:

• Electected members(councilors) from each ward in the city

• MPs from parliamentary constituencies in the city.

• National MPs residing in the city

Revenue collection

• local government has to pay their employees’ salaries and benefits. They have also to pay for services they offer. In order to meet their expenditures, local government are empowered to raise revenue

Sources for Local government revenues

• Rent

• Grants

• Development levy

• License including liquor, road

• Charges for council services

• Fines

• Fees i.e. taxi registration, bus stands, forestry products, valuation, scaffolding, inoculation and ambulance

How local government spend their finances?

• Pay their employee salaries

• Pay for services which they offer, such are

• Establishing, maintaining and controlling drainage and sewage system

• Building and maintaining schools and health centers

• Meet daily expenses and emergencies