The Gweru City Growth Pattern as An Innovative Governance Issue in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Urban platforms play a significant role in the development of city resources, addressing social and economic services and the impact on growth and pace of urban systems. Hence, this article sought to explore the historical, dynamic and fluid interactions of these processes to understand motives, drivers, impact and outcomes all designed to drive long-term city development, modernisation and social service provision. The study used mixed-methods approach, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. The article utilised the Complex Systems Theory to identify regularities at the global scale and enable global comparisons of urban platforms. It examined urban platform governance by outlining various types of public governance and depicting the role of platforms in this context and assessed the relevance of platforms as an emerging form of local public governance by merging theoretical analyses and empirical views from Gweru City. The study revealed that urban platforms concepts and practices can help explain modern growth patterns and pace of cities. The article also provides theoretical arguments and practical frameworks for developing policies for urban innovative development. The work will assist local policy-makers, planners and managers in understanding platform logic in the creation of public value by involving various stakeholders.