CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.5 Impact evaluation indicators of the twinning agreement
2.6.2 Primary data collection tools
21 Outcomes of trans-border spatial development cooperation: Insights from Musina and Beitbridge’s Twinning Agreement.
Since the twinning agreement affects residents in all the wards of Musina and Beitbridge, stratified random sampling was used to select respondents in all wards where each member and household head had an equal chance of being selected. In Beitbridge, the selection of the household heads within the wards was based on the intervals of the street arrangement i.e.
for every two streets; the first household head was picked until the total number of respondents required was selected. In Musina urban area, the same procedure was used as in Beitbridge.
However, in rural areas, where there are no streets, the researcher used census enumeration blocks to select the households.
22 Outcomes of trans-border spatial development cooperation: Insights from Musina and Beitbridge’s Twinning Agreement.
organisational structures of Musina and Beitbridge, local municipalities, key informants from the following offices or departments in both Musina and Beitbridge were interviewed:
The mayor’s office.
The Chief Executive Officer’s office (CEO).
The Technical Division Director’s office.
The Department of Immigration, Beitbridge border post.
The Spatial Planning Department.
(i) The mayor’s office
The interview with the mayor was mainly to obtain information on the political and policy buy- in of the twinning strategy. This was necessary because mayors as politicians from both sides were able to discuss how the local authorities on both sides agreed with the goals and objectives of the arrangement, the benefits that accrued to both towns in terms of development and the flow of goods.
(ii) The CEO’s office
The interview with the CEO assisted the researcher to collect data on the overall implementation and management of the whole twinning arrangement. It was assumed that their views could show how different sectors contributed to the agreement, i.e. spatial planning, financial input, home affairs arrangements, and the technical arrangements. . (iii) The Technical Division and Logistics Office
It was assumed that this department would provide information on the technical arrangements put in place for the twinning agreement. Examples of the arrangements expected here are fire services equipment, excavators and caterpillars. It was assumed that information on software and hardware put in place for the twinning would be obtained from the technical division. This data assisted the researcher to determine whether resources were set aside for the implementation of projects that emerged from the Terms of Reference of the twinning agreement. In addition, this assisted the researcher to determine the challenges faced by the two municipalities in the implementation process of the twinning agreement.
(iv) The Department of Immigration
23 Outcomes of trans-border spatial development cooperation: Insights from Musina and Beitbridge’s Twinning Agreement.
It was assumed that interviews with immigration officers would assist the researcher to gather data on the trans-border travellers’ management. This addressed issues of shared responsibilities in terms of the infrastructure provided on the border and the visas, on both the South African and the Zimbabwean side. It was assumed that data obtained from the immigration offices would provide information related to expertise on the visa issues, the smooth passage of goods and traffic on both sides of the divide. However, this was not the case, because the key informants from the immigration departments indicated that they were not aware of the twinning agreement. It was important to know if they faced any difficulties and how those difficulties were resolved collectively.
(v) The Spatial Planning Department
The interviews from this department assisted in gathering data for the shared responsibilities in terms of spatial planning. This addresses the issue of examining the implementation of the common Regional Spatial Development Framework on both sides, i.e. most of the objectives dealing with the economic and administrative theme of the twinning agreement are provided by these officials.
The spatial information regarding the planning, implementation and management of plans related to road development, parking spaces, recreational spaces, ablution facilities, immigration camps and Special Economic Zones was obtained from this office. The information collected on these issues assisted the researcher to know if the two municipalities were implementing the details that are common in the agreement.
2.6.2.3 Direct field observations
Field observations were among the primary data collection tools for the study. The researcher carried out site visits including a reconnaissance survey followed by on spot observation of the physical impacts of the agreement. Photographs and maps aided to capture the data collected during the field visits. Data collected during field visits assisted the researcher to verify some of the data collected through the administration of questionnaires and key informant interviews. The field observations were based on the objectives of the spatial planning theme goals, checking the progress on Special Economic Zones, renovation of dilapidating infrastructure, sharing ideas on service delivery issues and easing the movement of people across the border post.
24 Outcomes of trans-border spatial development cooperation: Insights from Musina and Beitbridge’s Twinning Agreement.