Traditional And Modern Institutions Of Governance In Community Based Natural Resource Management

Abstract

The advent of independence in most Southern African countries ushered in a new political dispensation emphasising democratic governance as the hallmark of a modern polity. Institutions evolving from this thrust are perceived as modern in contrast to those that are or were based on ascribed status-traditional institutions. In community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), post-independence governments have either condoned or legislated for the complete replacement of traditional institutions by modern institutions of governance. This 'discard approach’, based on governments’ perception of traditional institutions of governance as undemocratic and archaic, has deprived CBNRM of change with continuity. This resulted in either total or semi-marginalisation of traditional institutions in CBNRM thereby fomenting conflict, confusion and semi-anarchy. In this paper we review literature from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia to obtain insights on how the relationship between traditional and modem institutions of governance in the post-independence era affect CBNRM. On the basis of the insights, we argue that successful and sustainable CBNRM neither hinge on the discard approach nor exclusive reliance on modern institutions of governance. The forging of partnerships in CBNRM between the two institutions of governance seems to hold a more promising approach to sustainable CBNRM.