URBAN MANAGEMENT , LOCAL GOVERMENT REFORM AND THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS IN MOZAMBIQUE - MAPUTO-CITY 1975-1990

The urban management of Mozambique's capital was reorganised at indepe ndence to reflect the priorities of the ruling party Frelimo. Heralded as constituting a radical break with the past, many of the new struct ures and practices of local management demonstrated striking continuit ies with the colonial corporatist political culture inherited from the Portuguese administration. The highly centralised structures and comp licated lines of responsibility introduced by the new administration p roved unworkable in the face of generalised economic collapse and war. The agenda for the current reconstruction of city administration is b eing set largely by the international community and is aimed at more e ffective management practices. It is unclear whether the outcome will bring greater local accountability.