International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship Vol.1, Issue 10, 2014 http://www.ijsse.org ISSN 2307-6305 Page | 1 THE LIAISON BETWEEN CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: IS IT INCLINED IN A SYMBIOTIC FASHION TO EASE SERVICE DELIVERY IN TANZANIA? Denis J. Kamugisha School of Public Administration and Management, Mzumbe University, Tanzania CITATION: Kamugisha, D. J. (2014). The liaison between central and local governments: Is it inclined in a symbiotic fashion to ease service delivery in Tanzania? International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1 (10), 274-291. ABSTRACT It is not disputable that the symbiotic interface between the centre and local government is an elixir to service delivery. In the modern literature, this interface is referred to as intergovernmental relations (IGRs). It elucidates governments’ i nteraction, be it either in a unitary or federal system. It refers not to an interface that hinges copious decision at the centre. On the contrary, it focuses on the devolvement of autonomy to lower tiers of government. This is evident in a scenario where sub-national government exhibits vibrant institutional capacity. The institutional capacity engrosses vivacious resources, lucid institutional arrangements, coherent policies, and feasible legal framework. The overall objective of the phenomenon is to bring the government closer to the governed and boost quality service provision. Despite copious benefits which have come as a result of this quest, the road towards building symbiotic relations has not been so smooth. The paradox has always been that the Center has continued to exercise control over local government. As a result, service provision at the grassroots has remained in a state of flux. In that regard, there is an over hatching need of trying to unveil the paradoxes that hold back lucid IGRs. Key Words: Intergovernmental (Central & Local Government) Relations and Service Delivery. Introduction It is in no doubt that in order to have quality service provision there must be mutual interaction between upper and lower tiers of government. Its litmus test lies at the heart of vivacious resources, institutional arrangements, policies, and the legal framework at all government echelons. The interface between upper and lower layers of government can be expressed through political, financial, and administrative realms. Numerous scholarships such as Oloo (2008) and Max (1991), tried to shed light to those aspects. The political realm expresses devolution of powers from the centre to the lower organs of the government. It entails the creation of real, multi-functional governments at lower tiers within the national legislative framework (URT