An Anti-Development Model? Overcoming Obstacles to Domestic Resource Mobilization in Zimbabwe (Project Brief)

Weakened by hyperinflation, political instability and lack of investment over the past decade, Zimbabwe also witnessed the withdrawal of official development assistance and a shift to aid distribution through NGOs. In recent years, these have been providing key services following the sharp contraction of public social spending. Buoyed by the recent move to a multi-currency regime, renewed investor interest and stronger commodity markets, the booming mining sector now features centrally in the country’s resource mobilization strategies. But administrative, enforcement, infrastructural, rent-seeking and political challenges pose severe constraints that must be overcome if the fiscal potential of the mining sector is to be realized.

For more information on the project, see Project Brief 1. The Project Briefs of the case studies of Bolivia and Uganda are also available online.

This brief has been prepared by Katja Hujo and Harald Braumann.

UNRISD Project Briefs pose questions, flag ideas and contribute knowledge that can improve the quality of development debates, policy and practice. They provide a concise summary of an UNRISD research project, situating it within wider social development debates; outlining its focus, objectives and methodology; and highlighting interim findings.