Can Zimbabwe use its informal economy as a means for sustainable development in the current reconstruction process

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since the onset of the economic crisis, Zimbabwe has developed a very vibrant informal sector. Due to the closure of numerous industries, many have lost their jobs in the formal sector and as a means of survival, have had to engage with the informal economy. Various scholars have stated that the informal sector has become the unofficial backbone of the economy. However, with the formation of the unity Government in February 2009, the new Government is committed to national reconstruction leading to sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of this research is to highlight the importance of the informal sector as one of the tools that can be used to drive economic growth in the country. As a sector that has played a fundamental role in the country since 1990, this research aims to locate this sector in the current debates in the ongoing reconstruction process and make the link between the informal sector and sustainable development.