Which Way for Zimbabwe: Development Dilemmas and Prospects

Abstract

Zimbabwe, Africa's newest nation, achieved its independence in 1980. Since then, radically conflicting images of what is occurring in Zimbabwe have been presented in both academic and popular media. This paper is an effort to discern some of the important trends and conflicts in contemporary Zimbabwe and to suggest both their determinants and possible future direction. Using material drawn from government documents, economic and budgetary statistics and first-hand observation, the reason why Zimbabwe has not followed a more revolutionary development strategy is explained. The way in which the new regime's development strategy has affected the evolution of Zimbabwe's economy and politics since independence is then discussed. Finally, the basic tensions within the development strategy are examined, and whether or not these tensions will remain creative rather than destructive, are explored.