Local government duality and its discontents: Rural governance and contestations for power and influence between elected officials and traditional leaders in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This thesis deploys deliberative democracy in order to explore interactions in polity dualism in Matebeleland South and Matebeleland North, in Zimbabwe. The thesis was premised on two major problems in the way the issue of traditional leadership is generally talked about and studied. First, there is a theoretical problem in terms of how we study and talk about traditional leaders and their contribution in a democracy. Secondly, the institution of traditional leadership is assessed based on assumptions as opposed to hard facts. Methodologically, the study is based on a qualitative case study research design using focus group discussions, key informant interviews and document analysis that enabled an analysis of perceptions, opinions, experiences, and attitudes of residents regarding Zimbabwe’s dual local government system.