View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository
View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository
View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository
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3.2.2.6 Benefits <strong>of</strong>IDP for different stakeholders<br />
The IDP is very important in clarifYing the situational and spatial analysis <strong>of</strong> any municipal<br />
development initiative. Hence the IDP provides specific benefits for different groups, which<br />
include the following:<br />
• It enables a municipality to obtain access to development resources and investment.<br />
• It provides a clear and accountable leadership.<br />
• It provides a development direction, and<br />
• It is a basis to monitor the performance <strong>of</strong><strong>of</strong>ficials.<br />
Councillors have to play a leading role in the !DP process and some <strong>of</strong> their responsibilities<br />
are to: (Local Economic Development, 2001)<br />
• Make decisions.<br />
• See that the needs and aspirations <strong>of</strong>their constituencies are dealt with.<br />
• Communicate with constituencies through the !DP.<br />
• Represent their constituencies effectively by making informed decisions, and measure<br />
their own performance.<br />
In the light <strong>of</strong> the above roles, this research embraces capacity building and training <strong>of</strong><br />
councillors <strong>of</strong> Ulundi so that their energies would be channelled appropriately towards their<br />
expected responsibilities as outlined above. In the process, the views <strong>of</strong> the various sections<br />
<strong>of</strong>the Ulundi Local Municipalities would be accommodated in the IDP <strong>of</strong>the study area.<br />
The IDP provides municipal <strong>of</strong>ficials with a mechanism to communicate with the councillors.<br />
It allows the <strong>of</strong>ficials to contribute to the municipality's vision and to be part <strong>of</strong>the decision<br />
making process. The IDP serves as a guide to everything that the municipal departments do.<br />
As a result, all departments have to become involved in the integrated development planning<br />
process. The Constitution and the Municipal Systems Act (MSA, 2000;<br />
www.sapoaorg.zalindex2.php?option=com content&do pdf=l&id=269, 2008) stipulate that<br />
the municipality must involve stakeholders by establishing an effective participatory process.<br />
In the case <strong>of</strong> stakeholders that are not organised, NGOs or other resource persons play a<br />
critical role in advocating the interests <strong>of</strong>these groups.<br />
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