Participatory budgeting in rural councils: The case of Mangwe District council, Zimbabwe

Background: Participatory budgeting (PB) is fundamental to democratic governance and to empowering communities to actively participate in shaping local fiscal decisions. The adoption of PB in Zimbabwe was motivated by the need to enhance citizen participation, improve service delivery, increase transparency and accountability and ensure responsiveness to citizens’ needs. Aim: This study, which was grounded in the theoretical foundations of public choice theory, theory of change and citizenship theory, comprised an investigation of the intricate dynamics of PB’s implementation and its diverse outcomes, with the aim to design a participatory budgeting framework. Setting: The study was conducted at Mangwe Rural District Council (RDC) offices in Zimbabwe. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method, supplemented by document analysis. Results: A range of challenges were identified, including the limited empowerment of citizens because of restricted engagement in the PB process, challenges in accountability and transparency and service delivery constraints. Conclusion: Despite the adoption of PB, Zimbabwean local councils are struggling to achieve positive financial outcomes. Contribution: In response to these findings, a participatory budgeting model was developed for use by the Mangwe RDC and similar institutions. The proposed model offers a systematic and multifaceted approach to addressing the challenges and discrepancies identified in the context of PB implementation within rural African local governments. Guidelines for the operationalisation of the model are also provided.