Abstract:
This research is situated within a broader urban sociology framework, and set against
the background of a precarious economic and political milieu in Zimbabwe, as a result
of which urban infrastructure deteriorated immensely during the post-independence
period, in particular the third decade. Drawing on a literature on decentralization and
urban governance (Reddy, 1999; Smit and Pieterse, 2014), with a specific focus on
Africa (Ribot, 1999; Chigwata, 2010;Chigwenya, 2010), the study contends that the
acclaimed decentralization and devolution of power by the central state in Zimbabwe
can be described as phony and counter-productive in as far as urban infrastructure
development is concerned. Through a focus on fragmenting urban infrastructure in
contemporary Masvingo, Zimbabwe the study explores the challenges faced by the
municipal council and the livelihood and survival strategies of local elites in combating
service delivery and infrastructure challenges.
In this research, I argue that infrastructure conditions in urban Masvingo have
deteriorated owing to rapid urbanization, decentralization devoid of devolution, political
instability, human negligence, and macro-economic challenges, which in my view
affects the municipality s prioritization of expenditures. The municipal council view the
rise of government parastatals such as ZINARA as the biggest challenge undermining
their ability to acquire resources for infrastructure maintenance. Furthermore, it is
argued that the continued fragmentation of infrastructure and service delivery became
an eyesore as well as a threat to elites, who embraced a let s do it ourselves
approach . As a result, urban elites in Masvingo constantly engage with key institutions,
including the state and non-governmental organizations, to negotiate infrastructural
challenges with a view to improve livelihoods and well-being. In addition, urban elites
have been necessitated to implement a range of coping strategies at household level
(such as use of borehole water, household generators, and access to countryside
resources) to combat failing infrastructure. The study found that the coping strategies
employed by the elite urban ratepayers varies depending on whether they reside in a
low density or high density suburb. The research deployed data source triangulation techniques, utilizing semi-structured
interviews, document analysis and participant observation. A total of seventeen
interviews were conducted with key informants including councillors and top
representatives of the municipal council, a member of parliament, and selected elite
urban ratepayers in Masvingo.
