Policy Perspectives Episode 1: Dual administration in Hwange

Policy Perspectives launches with a focused, accessible conversation on dual administration in Hwange — a governance arrangement that shapes how people access services, land rights and local decision-making. Tinashe Raphael Matika leads a deep dive that explains what dual administration is and why it was put in place, outlines the legal frameworks that support it, and diagnoses the day-to-day problems it creates for residents and local institutions. We explore pressing questions: How does dual administration affect service delivery, accountability and community participation? What specific flaws are hurting Hwange communities — from unclear jurisdiction to weak enforcement and overlapping mandates? What does “incorporation” mean in this context, and what legal steps and reforms would be required to move toward a clearer, more responsive local governance model? Finally, we assess whether the Hwange Local Board — given its current funding, human resources and institutional constraints — can realistically manage concession areas and other responsibilities, and what support or policy shifts would be necessary for it to succeed.