Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

This paper empirically demonstrates the complex relationship between political developments and economic performance in Zimbabwe. It argues that, political developments and economic performance are inextricably interwoven such that a country’s failure to handle the two can have a far reaching impact on the political economy. Taking the case of Zimbabwe, it further demonstrates how the ruling ZANU PF-led government has driven the country towards an economic and political crisis in the last two decades. The paper discusses corruption, money crisis, and the rise of opposition parties as some of the consequences of ZANU PF’s hegemonic policy initiatives that demonstrate the complex interaction between political developments and political economy of development. In addition to the above, the paper offers a historically-grounded analysis that engages with the hegemonic rule of the ZANU PF government and illustrates how this has attracted low or no investment at all in the Zimbabwean economy. It further illustrates that ethnic homogeneity and building of stable political communities have a bearing on economic growth and development challenges bedeviling the African continent in general and Zimbabwe in particular.