Doctoral Degrees (Geography and Environmental Studies)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Geography and Environmental Studies) by Subject "Bureaucracy"

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    Street-level bureaucrats and piecemeal planning approaches in the Tanzanian small towns of Mlandizi and Sirari
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03) Yamungu, Nestory Erasto; Donaldson, Ronnie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current urbanisation trend in developing countries threatens the development of sustainable human settlements. Urbanisation challenges are likely to worsen as we approach 2050 when 80% of developing countries’ population will be urbanised. While this is happening urban research and planning initiatives will continue to focus on cities, while a considerable portion of the world’s population will still be living in small towns in the urban hinterlands. There is a need for equal planning efforts for both cities and small towns. The planning of many Tanzanian small towns is piecemeal rather than comprehensive. Piecemeal planning has the potential to undermine the socio-economic well-being of small-town inhabitants as well as their contributions to the development of sustainable human settlements. It is therefore imperative to ascertain which factors influence the adoption of piecemeal planning practices by town planners at subnational levels. The aim of this research was to investigate how local realities have influenced the adoption of piecemeal planning in two Tanzanian small towns, namely Mlandizi and Sirari. Mixed methods and case study research designs were used to collect quantitative, qualitative and geospatial data sets. The data were collected in Mlandizi and Sirari using 378 structured household interviews, ten in-depth interviews, two focus groups discussions, 118 layout plans, four satellite images, field observations and reviews of documents. Each set of data was separately analysed and triangulation methods were used to aggregate related themes. The themes were combined so as to answer the research questions. It was found that throughout the planning history of Tanzania the preparations of layout plans has been used to guide spatial development. Layout plans have always been part and parcel of urban design, master planning and strategic planning. But their piecemeal preparation is the result of the complex and multifaceted influences of local realities in the respective urban planning environments. Town planners are forced to adopt piecemeal planning so as to provide minimum planning solutions amid rapid urbanisation and the proliferation of informal settlements in small towns. In Mlandizi and Sirari piecemeal planning practices have been influenced by several multifaceted local realities of these small towns, namely the need to control the rapid development of informal settlements, the lack of institutional planning capacities, the local political climate, the proliferation of informal settlements and the role of the private sector in urban planning and development. Indeed, the adoption of neo-liberal planning policies in the context of low institutional capacity has increased the severity of these local realities. Moreover, piecemeal planning results in uncoordinated urban structures, limits the provision of and access to social services, constrains economic opportunities, breeds unfriendly environmental conditions and increases inhabitant’s susceptibility to environmental disasters. The sustainability assessment indicated that comprehensive planning stands a better chance of producing sustainable settlements. Piecemeal planning possessed some degree of sustainability potential, especially in terms of creating harmony with nature, promoting a place-based economy and fostering equity through the provision of planned housing. But piecemeal planning practices have failed to provide minimum planning solutions in the fast-growing small towns. Similarly, its adoption by the town planners in sub-national institutions turns them into agents for aggravating the existing ill urban conditions. Considering the complexities of the local realities in Mlandizi, Sirari and other small towns with similar conditions, this study recommends the adoption of piecemeal reality-based planning for small towns. Piecemeal planning needs to be improved in a way that maximise sustainability in small towns. However, this process must be accompanied by further research on designing planning and sustainability models for small towns. Research should also aim to find out the causes of planning coordination problems in local governments. This call for a clear understanding of urban areas declaration processes and preparedness in local councils in order to institute planning in small towns.