NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATICS AND DATA ANALYTICS

BSc (HON) IN INFORMATICS

Course: Geo Informatics (SCI4104)

Lecturer: M DZINOMWA

Assignment No: 1(GROUP)

GROUP MEMBERS
PRINCE NYATHI N02021370X
AMANDA JERE N02017652N
ROBERT SIBANDA N0175487Y
YOLANDA P NDLOVU N02019557B
COURAGE MATIVENGA N0197267W
TADIWA B ZINZOMBE N02021589F
TINASHE MUDEDE N02017587C
PROVIDENCE MHLOPHE N0189572D
COSMAS M NYATHI N0183508W
TAPIWA W MUSHONGA N02016819J
What is governance?

Governance refers to the process of decision making and the implementation of policies and
regulations by a group of individuals or an organization. It involves the establishment of
rules, procedures, and structures that ensure accountability, transparency, and effective
management of resources. It provides the structure through which the objectives of a
company are set, and the ways of attaining those objectives and monitoring the performance
are determined. It also can be in different forms, such as corporate governance, international
governance, national governance, local governance, new public management governance.

Types of Governance
1. Corporate governance - refers to management of private businesses or corporations.
Examples in Zimbabwe could include companies such as Econet Wireless or Delta
Corporation.

2. Local governance - refers to management of local government units such as municipalities,

cities, or counties. An example in Zimbabwe could be the city council of Harare.

3. National governance - refers to management of the country as a whole by the federal

government. Examples in Zimbabwe could include the President, Cabinet Ministers, and
Parliament.

4. International governance - refers to management of global entities such as the United

Nations or World Health Organization. An example of international management in
Zimbabwe could be the work of organizations such as UNICEF or WHO in providing aid and
assistance.

5. New Public governance - refers to a management approach that focuses on efficiency,

profitability and innovation in public administration. An example of this in Zimbabwe could
be the implementation of e-governance and digital platforms to improve delivery of public
services.

Characteristics of a good governance.

1. Participation:
Participation in the concept of good governance here is an opportunity for everyone to voice
their opinions through institutions or representations. In addition, everyone, without
exception, has the right to freedom of association and expression.
2. Rule of law:
To implement good governance, the legal framework in the country must be enforced
impartially, especially concerning human rights law.

3. Transparency:
Transparency means that every policy taken and implemented by the government must be
carried out under existing regulations. In addition, there must be a guarantee that any
information related to the policy can be accessed by everyone, especially those who are
directly affected by the policy.

4. Responsiveness:
Good governance needs institutions and processes to attempt to serve all stakeholders within
a reasonable time.

5. Consensus oriented:
This principle is related to the decision-making process. When the decision-making process
cannot accommodate everyone’s wishes, then at a minimum, the decision must be a decision
that can be accepted by everyone and does not harm anyone.

6. Equity and inclusiveness

Good governance ensures justice for the community. Everyone has the same opportunity to
maintain and improve their welfare.

7. Effectiveness and efficiency:

Every decision-making process and its institutions must be able to produce decisions that
meet every community need. Community resources must also be utilised optimally by the
government.

8. Accountability:
All institutions involved in good governance have full responsibility to the public for the sake
of improving the quality of society.
What is a policy?

Policies are a set of guidelines or principles that are formulated to achieve specific objectives
or goals.

Public policy is a long standing decision made by government or public authorities to address
public concerns or initiate ideas or solutions to public problems. It is a set of interrelated
decisions taken by a political actor or group of actors, who make decisions concerning the
situation and specific time for achieving goal or peace in the society.

It is a set of principles that are established by an organization or government to guide

decision making. Policies are usually written down the distributed to the people which it
applies to be it employees, stakeholders. Areas which are commonly covered include
employee conduct, data privacy and security. They also act as a legal compliant and risk
management point. Polices helps us as it provides a framework for decision making and to
ensure that the organization operates in a consistent and fair manner. Some characteristics of
policies include that they can cover wide range of topics, they are consistent and fair and they
are based on principles and guidelines

Relationship between Policies and Governance

Governance provides the overarching framework within which policies are formulated and
implemented, whereas, policies provide the specific guidelines for individual actions within
the governance framework. Governance sets the stage for policy formulation and
implementation, while policies operate within the governance framework to guide actions and
decision-making.

The relationship between government and policies, specifically in the context of the
Bulawayo City Council, can be described as follows:

The Bulawayo City Council operates as a local government authority in Zimbabwe and is
responsible for implementing policies and providing services to the residents of Bulawayo,
the second-largest city in the country. The council is made up of elected officials who form
the city's local government.

Government in this context refers to the national government of Zimbabwe, which sets
overarching policies and frameworks that local authorities such as the Bulawayo City Council
must adhere to. The government establishes laws and regulations that guide the operations
and decision-making of local governments, including in areas like governance, finance, and
service delivery.

The Bulawayo City Council is tasked with implementing these national policies at the local
level, specifically tailored to the needs and priorities of the city. The council has its own
specific policies that govern various aspects of the city's functioning, including urban
planning, housing, infrastructure development, health services, waste management, and
environmental protection, among others.

The relationship between the Bulawayo City Council and the national government is one of
partnership and cooperation. The council relies on the national government for guidance and
support, particularly in terms of policy direction and funding. Conversely, the national
government depends on local governments like the Bulawayo City Council to effectively
implement its policies and deliver services to the local population.

Regular communication and collaboration between the Bulawayo City Council and the
national government are crucial to ensure effective policy implementation and alignment with
national priorities. This relationship also enables feedback and accountability, as the council
can provide valuable insights and feedback to the national government on the realities and
challenges faced in implementing policies at the local level.

The central government also provides financial support to local authorities, including the
Harare City Council, through the allocation of grants and funds. The government's financial
contributions often come with conditions and requirements that must be met by the council in
order to access and utilize the funds.

Additionally, the central government may also have the power to intervene in the affairs of
the council, particularly in instances where there are governance issues or failures in service
delivery. The government may appoint commissions or administrators to oversee the council's
operations and make decisions on its behalf.

On the other hand, the Harare City Council has the responsibility to implement and enforce
policies and regulations set by the central government. The council is responsible for
planning and managing the city's development, providing services such as water and
sanitation, waste management, transport, and housing, among others. The council is also
tasked with maintaining law and order in the city, including enforcing bylaws and
regulations.

In summary, the relationship between the government and policies is intertwined in the
operations of the Harare City Council. The government sets the policies and regulations that
guide the council's functions and provides financial support, while the council is responsible
for implementing and enforcing these policies at the local level. The relationship between the
government and policies in the context of the Bulawayo City Council involves the council
implementing national policies at the local level while also developing its own policies to
address the specific needs of the city.
REFERRENCES

Rhodes, R. (1997).Understanding Governance. Buckinghum: Open University Press

Smith, N., 2005, the endgame of globalization, New York

Speech, R., 2005, A neoliberal nexus; economy and security‖, Political Geography, Volume
25, Issue 2, page 211-225
United States of America 2021, Foreign Policy, US Department of State Archive (USA),
viewed 31 March 2021 https://www.state.gov/
Chakunda, V., (2018) A critical analysis of the dynamics of intergovernmental relations in
Zimbabwe. Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities, 4(2), pp.14-27.

Mbiba, B. and Ndubiwa, M. (2009). Decent construction and the role of local authorities: The
case of Bulawayo city, Zimbabwe. Research report prepared for the Urban and Peri-Urban
Research Network
(Peri-NET)