The Efficiency of Contracting-Out Local Government Service Delivery: Implications on Kabwe Municipal Council's Garbage Collection

Abstract

: Local government has been part of Zambia’s government structure since independence in 1964. The rationale for its creation is for service provision in areas within its jurisdiction. Several attempts have been made to enhance local government service delivery. For instance, the fourth objective of the 1993 Public Service Reform Programme was aimed at enhancing service delivery through decentralization. Thus, this paper focuses on the efficiency of delivering local government services through the private sector by contracting-out, garbage collection services of Kabwe Municipal Council in the Central Province of Zambia from 2014 to 2018. The study employed a mixed methods approach with a case study research design. A sample of 314 respondents was arrived at using stratified and purposive sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 308 respondents while interview guides were used for the 6 key informants. The data was analyzed through version 23 SPSS for the questionnaires and thematic analysis for the interview guides. The study revealed that contracting-out improved service delivery, quickened service provision, increased customer satisfaction, reduced cost of service delivery and increased use of garbage collection services. The study also revealed some of the challenges in contracting service delivery which include; delay in payment of tipping fees to the council, frequent breakdown of contractor equipment vehicles, lack of compliance by customers to pay for the services. Recommendations were made to KMC which include; enhanced contractor monitoring, provision to contractor incentives, increase community sensitization, and enforcement of existing by-laws.