CHAPTER 6: RESEARCH FINDINGS, DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF
6.3 DATA COLLECTED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES
6.3.1 Biographical information
6.3.2.11. Implications of community participation in the IDP processes on local
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in the affairs that affect their lives as their constitutional mandate. They should participate in local issues for the success of local governance. Despite the challenges that community members face, the IDP processes ushers some opportunities for community members.
The table below highlights such opportunities and roles of community members in the IDP.
Table 5: Opportunities and roles for community members in the IDP OPPORTUNITIES AND ROLES FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE IDP
PERCENTAGE%
1 Invitation to meetings 13%
2 Gaining knowledge 11%
3 Investment in local governance 10%
4 Raising concerns and opinions 6%
As highlighted in the table, community members are invited to meetings to discuss matters of the community, this is shown by a higher percentage of 13% from the participants who answered the question. Furthermore 11% of participants indicated that that they are given opportunities in the IDP, it was indicated that in the discussion process, they gain knowledge about IDP. Therefore, another 10% of participants supported the idea that involvement in the local governance affairs through IDP meetings offer communities space to improve local governance either through raising concerns about service delivery or development needs. Lastly, 6% of participants stated that communities must give their opinions in the IDP to add value to the process of IDP. The role that communities play informs municipalities about the needs of communities, which they would not otherwise know. These community members can also generate views on what can be done to address community members' essentials.
6.3.2.11. Implications of community participation in the IDP processes on local
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between government officials and citizens would help improve local governance, and what were best ways to improve such a relationship. Therefore, the findings were as follows:
6.3.2.11.1. Understanding of the importance of local government
The researcher posed the question that says: Do you understand the importance of local government? It is important for community members to have an understanding of local government because it is regarded as the closest sphere of government to the people.
Therefore, findings are shown in the figure below.
Figure 13: Understanding of the importance of local government
From figure 13, it is indicated that a higher number of people highlighted that they have an understanding of the importance of local government. Therefore, 90% of participants highlighted that yes, they understand the importance of local government whereas only a smaller percentage of 10 indicated they do not understand the importance of local government.
6.3.2.11.2. Reasons for communities to participate in local government affairs It is worth noting that participation of communities is vital because it nurtures important and viable changes in communities as well as public inputs will enhance the public’s confidence in government. Therefore, the question the researcher asked here was: In your own perspective, do you think there is a need for communities to participate in local government affairs? Findings presented in the table below are from participants who indicated in the previous question that they understand the importance of local government.
YES, 90%
NO, 10%
YES NO
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Table 6. Reasons for communities to participate in local government affairs REASONS FOR COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
PERCENTAGES%
1 Communities get a chance to highlight existing challenges. 25%
2 Communities need to know about their own development and develop various programmes for development purposes.
20%
3 Local government should take concerns of the residents into account.
15%
4 Decisions taken in the municipality affect communities, so participation is necessary because it will also help communities discover activities within their area.
16%
5 Community participation in local government empowers young generation.
10%
6 Local government easily meet the needs of the community. 4%
The table presents findings revealed from participants in the study. The findings indicated that 25% of participants highlighted that communities need to participate in the local government affairs because they are given a chance to highlight existing challenges. 20%
of the responses indicated that communities need to know about their own development and develop various programmes for development purposes and a further 15% stated that the reason communities need to participate is for local government to take into account the concerns of residents. The idea is that, the higher percentage of community participation in local government affairs, the higher the chances that community members’
concerns be taken into account. Another 16% of participants indicated that community participation is necessary because decisions taken in the municipality affect communities and this will help communities discover activities within their area. 10% of the responses further indicated that community participation in local government affairs empowers young generation and lastly, only 4% of participants highlighted that local government easily meet
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the needs of the community hence communities should participate in local government affairs.
6.3.2.11.3. Strategies to improve the relationship between local government officials and citizens
The question here was: What do you think is the best way to improve the relationship between local government officials and citizens? The researcher asked the question in order to understand if community members have an interest in working together with local government officials. Therefore, findings revealed the following results presented in the table below.
Table 7: Strategies to improve the relationship between local government officials and citizens
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS
PERCENTAGES%
1 Host community imbizos and gatherings. 27%
2 Having suggestion boxes at the local municipality offices. 23%
3 Increase the level of engagement between local government officials and citizens.
20%
4 Involvement of citizens in the decisions that the local government initiate.
15%
5 Local government officials need to act on what citizens need the most to make the country a better one.
9%
6 Municipalities should inform citizens about topical issues surrounding them.
6%
The findings as presented in the table above, indicate that 27% of participants highlighted that the relationship between local government officials and citizens can be improved if community imbizos and gatherings are hosted, this will make citizens believe in their government. 23% highlighted that there should be suggestion boxes at the local municipality offices where citizens put all their concerns and questions, however, 20% of
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participants indicated that the level of engagement between local government officials and citizens should be increased. Furthermore, 15% stated that it is important that citizens be involved in the decisions that local government initiate and another 9% of participants indicated that local government need to act on what citizens need the most, to make the country a better one. Lastly, 6% highlighted that municipalities should inform citizens about topical issues surrounding them. This will help increase the level of participation.
From the quantitative findings, it can be deduced that participants answered questions according to their level of understanding. This was shown in the presentation of data that some figures and tables presented data from participants who had an understanding of the subject for the study and others presented their level of understanding on local government matters. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there are challenges that participants as community members come across in the process of participating in the local government affairs such as integrated development planning processes. The findings also revealed that it is important for communities to get a chance to raise their opinions in the affairs that will affect their lives and education concerning local government processes such as IDP process should be given to community members. The idea is that it will help increase the level of community participation and increase local governance.