Achieving Fiscal Sustainability in Zambia's Local Government: Designing a Local Government Framework

Abstract

<strong>Abstract:</strong> Local authority autonomy is critical for effective and efficient delivery of services to the people. One of the objectives of this study was to design a framework that seeks to address the challenges associated with attainment of local authority autonomy. The purpose of the framework was to support local authorities so that they participate in the implementation of development as per the needs of the people at the local level in Zambia. The study develops a framework for achieving decentralisation as an initiative for supporting public participation and local authority autonomy. The study establishes that local authorities in Zambia primarily financed through a system of intergovernmental transfers or grants, do not have adequate revenue base to guarantee fiscal autonomy and, are bogged down by limitless political interferences and regulations. In order to guarantee autonomy of local government, the study develops a framework through a pragmatic approach. Data is collected using purposive and critical case sampling, through person-to-person interviews, questionnaire interviews as well as secondary data through literature reviews and content analysis of local authority project documents. The sample size for the questionnaire was 103 computed at ninety-five percent confidence level with a five percent confidence interval. The framework was validated by 17 experts in the local government sector; that were involved in the implementation of both grant and locally financed projects. The study argues that the proposed framework could enhance decentralization and improve local authority autonomy in Zambia and the paper suggests that local government should intensify on internal revenue generation. <strong>Keywords:</strong> local government finance, local government framework, central government grants, fiscal autonomy, decentralization. <strong>Title:</strong> Achieving Fiscal Sustainability in Zambia’s Local Government: Designing a Local Government Framework <strong>Author:</strong> Moffat Tembo, Dr. Erastus Misheng’u Mwanaumo <strong>International Journal of Recent Research in Interdisciplinary Sciences (IJRRIS)</strong> <strong>ISSN 2350-1049</strong> <strong>Vol. 9, Issue 3, July 2022 - September 2022</strong> <strong>Page No: 33-46</strong> <strong>Paper Publications</strong> <strong>Website: www.paperpublications.org</strong> <strong>Published Date: 02-August-2022</strong> <strong>DOI: </strong><strong>https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6952792</strong> <strong>Paper Download Link (Source)</strong> <strong>https://www.paperpublications.org/upload/book/Achieving%20Fiscal%20Sustainability-02082022-4.pdf</strong>