Abstract:
The article demonstrates that decentralisation has been eulogised as a participatory
means to development, which enhances good governance and democracy.
Developing countries have embarked on various public sector management
reforms in an effort to improve public service delivery. These reforms entail
among other things redefining the role of the state, hence a shift from a focus
on government to governance as nations strive towards lean, decentralised
and democratic states. Governments have been urged to decentralise in order
to improve service delivery and efficiency. Decentralisation has been eulogised
as a participatory means to development, enhancing good governance and
democracy. Botswana has been exemplary in public service management; the
country has continuously embarked on and successfully implemented various
public sector reforms in an effort to improve its public administration. Amid the
implementation of decentralisation [as espoused by developing countries] the
government of Botswana in 2009 made a decision to transfer the management
of clinics and primary hospitals together with the related personnel from local
government to central government. Drawing from content-based examination of
government’s decisions on centralisation of primary health services and rural water
supplies, using theories and concepts of decentralisation, the article shows that
the discourse of centralisation vis-à-vis decentralisation enhancing participatory
democratic governance and service delivery efficacy, or lack thereof, remains an
unresolved story for developing countries.
