ABSTRACT

This paper explores the roots of rural poverty in Zimbabwe within the context of the role of the state and its economic and political interests over time and specific space. It traces the socio-economic and political factors that led to the impoverishment of rural areas in Zimbabwe, demonstrating that rural poverty is a colonial legacy whose roots lie in the racial ideology of the state. African Reserves were basically created as reservoirs of cheap labour for white-owned mines and farms and emerging urban areas. They were also created to separate Africans from whites in terms of service provision at every level. However, the article further examines the role of the post-colonial government in addressing these colonial imbalances that left urban centres as islands of developments in a sea of rural underdevelopment. Using Musana District as a case study, it interrogates post-colonial state policy towards rural development and its impact in addressing the vestigial inequalities that existed between rural and urban areas. The study makes the point that despite the consistent political support it receives from rural dwellers rural development and the government's claims that have been the cornerstone of its policies since independence, the Zimbabwean government has done little to sustainably and effectively provide basic amenities to rural areas since independence. Moreover, the paper argues that the ruling party has not only failed to contribute towards rural development but has been a direct beneficiary of the status quo as it has enabled it to maintain political stranglehold in rural areas.

摘要

本文在国家角色及其经济和政治利益的背景下，探讨津巴布韦农村贫困的根源在时间和特定空间内。它追溯了导致津巴布韦农村地区贫困的社会经济和政治因素，表明农村贫困是殖民遗产，其根源在于国家的种族意识形态。非洲储备基本上是为白人拥有的矿山和农场以及新兴城市地区提供廉价劳动力的水库。它们的创建也是为了在各个级别的服务提供方面将非洲人与白人区分开来。然而，本文进一步研究了后殖民政府在解决这些使城市中心成为农村欠发达海洋中的发展岛屿的殖民失衡方面的作用。以穆萨纳区为例，它探讨了后殖民国家对农村发展的政策及其在解决农村和城市地区之间存在的残余不平等方面的影响。该研究指出，尽管从农村居民那里获得了农村发展的一贯政治支持，并且政府声称自独立以来一直是其政策的基石，但津巴布韦政府自那时以来几乎没有采取任何措施为农村地区提供可持续和有效的基本设施。独立。此外，本文认为，执政党不仅没有为农村发展做出贡献，反而成为现状的直接受益者，因为它使其能够在农村地区保持政治束缚。它探讨了后殖民国家的农村发展政策及其在解决城乡地区之间存在的残余不平等方面的影响。该研究指出，尽管从农村居民那里获得了农村发展的一贯政治支持，并且政府声称自独立以来一直是其政策的基石，但自独立以来，津巴布韦政府在可持续和有效地为农村地区提供基本设施方面做得很少。独立。此外，本文认为，执政党不仅没有为农村发展做出贡献，反而成为现状的直接受益者，因为它使其能够在农村地区保持政治束缚。它探讨了后殖民国家的农村发展政策及其在解决城乡地区之间存在的残余不平等方面的影响。该研究指出，尽管从农村居民那里获得了农村发展的一贯政治支持，并且政府声称自独立以来一直是其政策的基石，但津巴布韦政府自那时以来几乎没有采取任何措施为农村地区提供可持续和有效的基本设施。独立。此外，本文认为，执政党不仅没有为农村发展做出贡献，反而成为现状的直接受益者，因为它使其能够在农村地区保持政治束缚。