How can Zimbabwe leverage its mineral resources for economic recovery and sustainable growth
Date
2016
Authors
Zikiti, Beauty
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Abstract
Zimbabwe’s mineral sector has been the major contributor of the national economy’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) since the economic meltdown post land reform programme. The
scale of the crisis resulted in the adoption of the multicurrency system in 2009. In an
attempt to save the economy from total collapse the government has turned to the mining
sector to establish linkages through mineral beneficiation. This study has analysed whether
the creation of linkages in the mineral sector, through beneficiation and value addition,
could resuscitate the economy. Literature on natural resources shows that countries that are
resource-rich experience slow growth rates than resource-poor countries. The study found
that mineral resource dependency could be a platform or foundation for economic growth
and developmental opportunities through linkages creation in the mineral sector. However,
resource-based development strategy is a challenging development path that needs a strong
state with vested capacity to actively direct and co-ordinate economic transformation
through deepening of the resource sector. Political tensions in Zimbabwe are the overriding
obstacles to economic linkages creation in the mining sector and across other sectors. It is
therefore, imperative to understand the socio-economic and political dynamics and
interactions that influence and shape policy decisions, implementation and their outcomes
in order for Zimbabwe to optimise economic linkages and revive its economy.
Description
Dissertation submitted to the University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty
of Commerce, Law and Management in partial fulfilment of the
requirement of the degree of
MASTER OF COMMERCE IN DEVELOPMENT THEORY AND
POLICY
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management
School of Economics and Business Sciences – SEBS
Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development (CSID)
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Citation
Zikiti, Beauty (2016) How can Zimbabwe leverage its mineral resources for economic recovery and sustainable growth, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/21775>