| Abstract: | Independence heralded the first concerted efforts at administrative reform and the restructuring of the machinery of government in order to enable it to be instrumental in bringing about the development required in African societies. Despite pockets of progress and achievements in selected areas, the record of administrative reform in most African countries has not been impressive. This paper examines the Swaziland experience with administrative reform since independence in 1968. The analysis shows that there exists a wide gap between theory and practice, as well as between promise and performance in the implementation of administrative reforms in the country. This can be explained by a number of factors, including the influence of the political system, the conservative nature of the traditional leadership and its preoccupation with the maintenance of the status quo, and the lack of strong political will and genuine commitment to change on the part of the government and the country's leadership. Furthermore, some postindependence era reform initiatives were of such magnitude and complexity as to dwarf the institutional capacity of the government machinery to implement them. Against this background, the paper argues that in order to be successful, administrative reforms have to be limited in scope. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract] |
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