Socio-Economic Development And The Role Of The State In Zimbabwe: Controversies, Dilemmas And Openings

Planned management of the economy was the catch-word at independence. It was felt that socioeconomic development should be consciously organized, planned, directed and controlled by means of National Plans. From the above conviction demonstrated at independence one might argue that, in planning practice, yearly unpredicted shocks that move the economy away from targets should be dealt with in some fashion, whether by emergency cabinet meetings, rushed meetings of Planning Board or other haphazard means. (SARRIS 1982 page 38). But the usual result in such situations is that the overall objectives of the plan are scrapped in an effort to cope with the short-run problems.

A ZIDS article on Zimbabwe's socio-economic development.