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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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