Zimbabwe’s Economy Four Decades in Perspective (1980-2020)

This book traces the economic history of Zimbabwe from independence to the present day. Through a comprehensive historical examination, it highlights the short-lived successes in the early years after independence and the dwindling colonial economy, as well as the economic problems of the decades that followed. The authors identify crucial flaws in the country's economic policies and highlight several dilemmas in the implementation of policies that exacerbated the country's deep-seated structural problems. The book provides deep insights into the economic and social realities of post-colonial states in Africa and offers important lessons for other African countries.

Part I. Becoming a sovereign state.- Chapter 1. 18 April 1980, Dawn of a New Era?.- Part II. Unpacking A New Zimbabwe and Taking Charge.- Chapter 2. Early Years of Post-Independence Zimbabwe.- Chapter 3. Achievements Over the Four Decades and Looking Ahead.- Chapter 4. Policy Execution Dilemmas over the Years.- Part III. Writing on the wall…Stoking the fires of economic turbulence.- Chapter 5. Making or Breaking Zimbabwe: 1987-2020 Issues.- Part IV. On the edge of a cliff… Crisis within a crisis!!.- Chapter 6. ‘Jewel of Africa’ Peeled: Four Blunders Over the Four Decades.- Chapter 7. Sinking Further.- Part V. Re-wiring Zimbabwe…attempting to make things work.- Chapter 8. The foot on the pedal.- Chapter 9. Critical Lessons for Other Post- Independent African States.- Chapter 10. Migration, Empowerment and Zimbabwean Women.- Chapter 11. Further Issues.- Chapter 12. Conclusion.

Kenneth Mahuni is a multi-award-winning PhD candidate at the University of Mauritius and a co-author of the book Africa’s Incomplete Cycles of Development. He has published several peer-reviewed papers and presented his research at prestigious forums, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP). Kenneth has extensive experience working within policy environments.

Dr. James Zivanomoyo is a senior lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University with over twenty-one years of experience in teaching and supervising graduate and postgraduate students. He has authored over twenty peer-reviewed papers and presented at more than twelve international conferences. Additionally, he has co-edited a book and contributed to over fourteen book chapters.

Dr. Puruweti Siyakiya holds a PhD in Economics from Turkiye and a  Masters in Economics of Development  from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands. With over ten years of work experience, he specializes in development economics, international trade, and industrialization. Currently, he serves as a senior lecturer at the National University of Lesotho.

Dr. Simba Mutsvangwa is a research economist with extensive experience in research and policy analysis. He holds a PhD in International Economics from Yokohama National University in Japan, and both an MSc and BSc Honours in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe. He has accumulated over ten years of research experience in both government and academic settings.