This study investigates how political dynamics impacted on service delivery in urban areas of Zimbabwe in general and, SPECIFICALLY, in the cities of Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare. The problematic of urban governance in these cities has been marked by contestation, confusion and change for a range of reason which would seem to be associated with issues of planning and management of urban areas, infrastructure such as provision and maintenance of roads, housing, public transport and water and sanitation. Consequently, these urban governance contestations almost led to the collapse of most if not all, urban functions and services in the aforementioned urban areas. That Zimbabwe is suffering from a crisis of governance and public service delivery for decades is not in doubt. In this thesis, I argue that whilst much attention has been given to state governance, it is at the local governance level where the impacts of the crisis are more severe. Why at the local governance level? Local government is mandated to deliver directly or indirectly key human development services to citizens. Inevitably, urban governance is an important determinant of urban services delivery. Urban governance takes place within a wider governance and political context. Postindependent urban Zimbabwe was dominated by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) until the turn of the millennium. When the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) began dominating urban local authorities, urban governance signaled an era marked by contestation, confusion and change. Subsequent urban governance political dynamics had profound impacts on service delivery. Change manifested itself in the rise of the MDC and the subsequent consternation of Zanu-PF in the control of urban councils. Zanu-PF responded through a spirited and heterodox comeback resulting in widespread contestation with MDC led councils. The local government ministry and central government continuously interfered and distorted the operations of urban governments. Urban councils became weak as service delivery was politicized with party structures more powerful than urban administration. Political contestation brought confusion as it became difficult to determine who was in control of urban affairs. Elected councillors and mayors were suspended or fired with central government taking over the delivery of some urban services. The contest for control of the urban constituency between MDC and Zanu-PF has been sustained at the expense of service delivery. Considering the role of politics in urban governance, I conclude that the crisis of service delivery in urban Zimbabwe is a political crisis driven by the political impasse between the MDC and Zanu-PF.