The effect of centralization of fiscal powers on developmental activities of the Okavango Regional Council

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This theoretically guided qualitative and quantitative study aims atinvestigating the extent to which centralization of fiscal powers in theNamibian State has been detrimental to development activities of theOkavango Regional Council. A further aim is to make recommendations andsuggest balanced inter-governmental fiscal relations between central andregional governments in Namibia.The significance of this study lies in the fact that, since the abolition ofhomelands in Namibia by the incumbent goven:rrnent in the 1990s, nocomprehensive study has been carried out to analyze the socio-economicimplications of such centralization of powers by central government.The study demonstrates that the degree of autonomy afforded to regionalgovernments in Namibia stagnates their role as socio-economic developmentagents/facilitators. The study also examines the causes of disparities betweencentnil and regional governments. Important among the causes is the legalframework, which does not specify a fixed sharing formula.A number of corrective measures are suggested by the study. Among thesemeasures are the decentralisation of functions that can be efficientlyperformed by regional governments, assignment of taxes to regionalgovernments and amendment of existing legislation to allow for a balancedinter-governmental relations policy. The study further suggests thatdecentralization of functions to regions needs to be carefully planned andimplemented because to lack of resource endowment and experiencedpersonnel in the regions.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University