Introduction
The participatory planning processes adopted by the assembly facilitated the identification of various strategic development issues from the participants at the planning fora organized in the various communities. A tall list of community needs and aspirations were identified. Given the time frame for plan implementation and resources, prioritization of the development issues became very pertinent. In view of this various prioritization methods were used to come up with the most important and critical development issues that could be addressed both at the community level as well as zonal and sectoral levels.

Prioritize Of Development Needs - Processes
To enable the Municipal Assembly focus on strategic development interventions over the four (4) year plan period, prioritization of development needs and issues were undertaken right from the community level planning dialogue meetings organized by the MPCU.    At the community level, the simple ranking method of prioritizing development needs was adopted. Participants were therefore requested to vote for the identified needs in order of priority.

At the end of the processes a list of prioritized community needs and specific development interventions were documented. To collate Zonal council level prioritized needs, the MPCU adopted the procedure in the annex five (5) of the guidelines for preparing MTDP 2010-2013. The process involved the combination of needs that are the same but stated differently.  After this, a matrix was constructed and community needs were listed and the range of ranks was indicated. A weight from 6-1 was assigned in order of importance. Weighted score was calculated as well as total weight score.

Finally all the needs were ranked in order of their weighted total score and results is indicated in tables 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 respectively. It can be seen that provision of roads topped in all the zonal councils.

Municipal Level Prioritization
The prioritization of inputs from the decentralized departments was considered in relation to the zonal council priorities ( as indicated above) as well as the under listed criteria.
1    The intervention should meet basic human needs
 2    Should have multiplier effects on the local economy vis job creation, increase income and growth   
 3    The ability of the intervention to reduce and bridge the rural-urban economic and social gaps in accessing facilities and services
The result of the prioritization processes and exercises are given under the seven (7) thematic areas as indicated below.

Prioritized needs under the seven thematic areas
The prioritized needs are given under the seven thematic areas of the MTPF 2010-2013 as follows.

Improvement and sustenance of micro stability

• Increase the mobilization of internally generated revenue
• Strengthen the Inter Audit Unit
• Build the capacity of revenue collectors
• Strengthen monitoring and supervision of revenue collection

Expanded development of productive infrastructure

1. Improve road conditions in both urban and rural areas
2. Provide drains, culverts and bridges
3. Provide household sanitation facilities        
4. Improve waste collection and management
5. Effective development control
6. Prevent unauthorized structures and slums
7. Upgrade slums
8. Facilitate the provision of water especially in the urban areas
9. Connect communities to national electricity grid

Accelerated Modernization and Agro-based industrial development

• Promote alternative livelihood programmes
• Formation of farmer based organizations
• Promote the adoption of improved seeds and technology
• Promote tree planting and greening of the environment

Sustainable partnerships between Government and the private sector

1. Creation of employment opportunities   
2. Formation of corporative societies
3. Advocacy for disability issues
4. Market potential tourist sites
5. Promote the formation of cooperative societies

Developing Human Resources for National development

• Provision of health infrastructure
• Promote efficiency in health service delivery
• Improve educational infrastructure
• Provide scholarships for needy people
• Develop human resource capacity of the Assembly
• Provide office and staff accommodation
• Improve births and deaths registration

Transparent and Accountable Governance

1. Increase knowledge about civic rights and responsibility
2. Promote gender mainstreaming in development and local governance
3. Transparency and fairness in financial management
4. Promote participation in planning and budgeting
5. Strongly link planning and budgeting
6. Enhance security in the various communities    ;
7. Strengthen the substructures and promote Assembly’s bye-laws

Reducing Poverty and Income Inequalities

1. Promote the formation of women’s groups
2. Facilitate women’s access to credit and skills training
3. Increase knowledge about disaster knowledge and prevention

Refer to the pdf file for tables below.