Abstract

This study examined leadership and service delivery in road construction and maintenance, using Lilongwe City as a case study. Its primary aim was to explore how the council’s leadership affects construction and maintenance of roads in the city. A qualitative research design was employed, with purposive sampling used to select participants. Data collection involved 12 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with a representative from Malawi Local Government Association (MALGA), administrative and elected officers of Lilongwe City Council and 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with residents and various committees of the council. The study uncovered a leadership style that blends participatory and authoritative approaches. However, effective leadership and service delivery are hindered by bureaucratic delays, resource constraints, and political interference. A central finding is the paradox within the council's leadership dynamics: while leadership is tasked with identifying infrastructure needs and setting priorities, its influence often ends at recommendations due to financial and systemic limitations. This disconnect underscores a significant urban governance challenge: leadership that lacks the autonomy and resources to fulfill its mandate, thereby undermining service delivery in critical sectors. The paper offers several recommendations to address these challenges, including resource mobilization, capacity-building programs, anti-corruption measures, administrative reforms, and inclusive community engagement. While the study provides critical insights into the factors affecting leadership in urban road construction and maintenance, its scope is geographically limited to Lilongwe City. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to other councils, as dynamics may vary. Future research should focus on diverse urban councils to enable comparative analysis and explore areas such as the impact of community engagement, the role of technology, and the effects of anti-corruption measures and public sector reforms on service delivery. Overall, the study contributes to the body of knowledge on urban governance and public administration by offering a detailed analysis of the interaction between leadership, bureaucratic structures, and service delivery in resource-constrained urban settings, while also proposing actionable reforms to enhance governance effectiveness.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2025

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