ABSTRACT

Contemporary development entails adopting democratic principles of all-inclusive participation, accountability of authorities to the citizens and transparency among others. This article examines the role of citizen participation in development planning in the Murewa Rural District (MRD). It used a mixed methods approach to collect data. Thirty interviews and eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with key informants that is council officials and government representatives were conducted. 396 survey questionnaires were used to collected data from community members and the statistical and thematic approach to analyse data. Results show that the role of citizens in development planning in MRD remains constrained and fragmented. This constrained development which citizens argue is designed and implemented by a few elites. Through decentralized and participatory development is evident within the structures in MRD it has not translated to the practical engagement of community members but an opportunity to establish working local government systems. The citizens are only limited to financial and political involvement through budgeting and the election of leaders. However, citizen involvement is a development goal critical in ensuring community-rooteddevelopment is achieved. The research recommends citizens be considered as agents of change in meaniful development acceptable to the community which it is meant to benefit.

摘要

当代发展需要采用包容各方的参与、当局对公民负责以及透明度等民主原则。本文探讨了公民参与穆雷瓦农村地区 (MRD) 发展规划的作用。它使用混合方法来收集数据。与关键信息提供者（议会官员和政府代表）进行了 30 次访谈和 8 次焦点小组讨论 (FGD)。使用 396 份调查问卷收集社区成员的数据，并采用统计和专题方法来分析数据。结果表明，公民在 MRD 发展规划中的作用仍然受到限制和分散。公民认为这种限制发展的行为是由少数精英设计和实施的。通过 MRD 结构中显而易见的权力下放和参与式发展，它并没有转化为社区成员的实际参与，而是建立有效的地方政府系统的机会。公民只能通过预算和选举领导人来参与财政和政治。然而，公民参与是确保实现植根于社区的发展的关键发展目标。该研究建议将公民视为有意义的发展变革的推动者，该发展应为社区所接受，并使其受益。公民只能通过预算和选举领导人来参与财政和政治。然而，公民参与是确保实现植根于社区的发展的关键发展目标。该研究建议将公民视为有意义的发展变革的推动者，该发展应为社区所接受，并使其受益。公民只能通过预算和选举领导人来参与财政和政治。然而，公民参与是确保实现植根于社区的发展的关键发展目标。该研究建议将公民视为有意义的发展变革的推动者，该发展应为社区所接受，并使其受益。