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Economic And Political Development In Zimbabwe

        The country of Zimbabwe is one of the most economically
developed on the African continent . A fairly young political entity,
Zimbabwe has only enjoyed recognized autonomy since 1980, the year in
which the United Kingdom repealed its imperialistic claims to the
African nation . Despite its youth the country has achieved a level of
economic development uncharacteristic of sub-Saharan African nations.
Second only to South Africa in economic development, Zimbabwe's
economic system is one indicative of a transitional country, a country
making the transition from dependency underdevelopment to self-reliant
industrialization. The purpose of this essay is to make a cursory but
adequate examination of Zimbabwean socio-economic and political
system, as means to analyzing the countries economic development. The
ultimate purpose of this study is to provide a model of the structure
necessary to achieve economic development where none previously
existed. Zimbabwe is an appropriate model because the dynamics of
underdevelopment to development in this country are readily apparent.
This model can be useful in understanding underdevelopment in other so
called "third-world" countries and in determining what is necessary
for these countries to make the transition to industrialization.

Geography

        Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the southern, sub-Saharan
area of the African continent bordered by South Africa to the South,
Botswana to the West, Mozambique to the East and Zambia to the North.
With an area of 391,090 km2 Zimbabwe is only slightly larger than the
state of Colorado. Harare is Zimbabwe's capital and largest city with
a population of 1,100,000. Containing vast amounts of rare
mineralogical resources and possessing a favorable growing climate
Zimbabwe's economy is drawn almost equally between the mining of
minerals ($2.2 billion) and the production of staples and cash crops
($2.1 billion).

People...