Financing District Councils: Local Taxes And Central Allocations

The problem of local government finance is a universal one whose manifestations vary from country to country. The problem is more significant for developing countries where the variety of designated functions for local authorities have not always been matched by responsibility for public spending. Due to rapid population growth there is a growing demand for provision of local services and employment. This is reflected in the growing numbers to be educated, sheltered, transported, treated and employed. Zimbabwe with an estimated population growth rate of 2.9% is faced with a wide range of these problems, in addition to the objective of restructuring the inherited dualist colonial economy.

A RUP Occasional Paper.