An Analysis Of Indigenisation And Economic Empowerment In Zimbabwe.

Date
2016-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Zimbabwe’s Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme, (IEEP), is one of similar programmes implemented by most former colonies meant to address socioeconomic inequalities. It falls within the same category as economic nationalism, which is also popular in Third World countries which are endowed with abundant natural resources. The IEEP has courted a lot of controversy with opponents arguing that the programme is a populist one which will destroy the economy in the same way Zimbabwe’s land reform before it did. However, the government of Zimbabwe touts the programme as a major pillar of poverty reduction in the country. For empowerment programmes in the mould of the IEEP to reduce poverty, they need to be broad-based and avoid elite empowerment. This research sought to unpack the IEEP, and inquire into the possible impediments to the success of the IEEP. The research also sought to find out how other countries had implemented and fared in the implementation of similar programmes. Ultimately, the research sought to discover conditions necessary for the success of programmes such as the IEEP and make recommendations for the adoption of such conditions for the success of Zimbabwe’s IEEP. The findings reveal that generic empowerment programmes like the IEEP, are indeed necessary in former colonies like Zimbabwe to address inherited socio-economic inequalities which may pose a threat to social stability if left unattended. However Zimbabwe’s IEEP in its current form may not succeed in its aims. It is the conclusion of the research that the IEEP is not comprehensive enough, has too short an implementation time frame, among other weaknesses which may militate against its success. Using the experiences of the implementation of empowerment programmes elsewhere, the research makes recommendations on how the programme and its manner of implementation can be improved upon if the programme is to achieve its stated objectives. The recommendations mainly relate to lowering the indigenisation targets, attracting FDI, getting the buy-in of all stakeholders among other recommendations.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Zimbabwe se ‘Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme’ (IEEP) is een van soortgelyke programme wat geïmplementeer was deur voormalige kolonies om ekonomiese ongelykhede aan te spreek. Dit val in dieselfde kategorie as ekonomiese kapitalisme, wat ook baie populêr is in ontwikkelende lande wat beskik oor baie natuurlike hulpbronne. Die IEEP program het ook baie teenkanting ontvang van opponente wat meen dat dit populisties van natuur is, en uiteindelik kan lei tot die vernietiging van die ekonomie, in dieselfde manier as Zimbabwe se grondhervormingsprogram wat dit vooraf gegaan het. In teenstelling, verwys die Zimbabwiese regering daarna as ʼn belangrike deel van sy armoede verligting strategie. Programme van dieselfde aard as die IEEP kan effektief wees in hulle doel om armoede te verlig, deur te fokus op breë gebaseerde bemagtiging en om elite bemagtiging te vermy. Die navorsing fokus op die verduideliking van IEEP, sowel as die moontlike struikelblokke wat sukses kan beïnvloed van die program. Die navorsing fokus ook op ander lande wat soortgelyke programme geïmplementeer het, en spesifiek hoe hulle gevaar het in terme van die programme. Die navorsing het dit ten doel om toestande wat nodig is vir die sukses van programme soos die IEEP te ontdek, terwyl dit ook aanbevelings maak vir die aanvaarding van voorwaardes wat uiteindelik na die sukses van Zimbabwe se IEEP kan lei. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat generiese bemagtigingsprogramme soos die IEEP, inderdaad noodsaaklik is vir voormalige kolonies soos Zimbabwe. Sulke programme spreek geërfde sosio-ekonomiese ongelykhede aan wat 'n bedreiging inhou vir sosiale stabiliteit. Zimbabwe se IEEP in sy huidige vorm kan nie daarin slaag om sy doelwitte te bereik nie. Die die oorhoofse gevolgtrekking van die navorsing is dat die IEEP nie omvattend genoeg is nie en dat dit ʼn baie kort implementeringstyd het. Dit is slegs twee van die swakpunte wat dalk strydig kan wees met sy sukses. Deur te fokus op die ervarings van implementering van bemagtigingsprogramme elders, kan die navorser aanbevelings maak oor hoe die program en sy wyse van implementering verbeter kan word. Die aanbevelings verwys hoofsaaklik na die verlaging van die verinheemsing maatstawe en teikens, die lokking van direkte buitelandse beleggings (FDI), en die verkryging van ondersteuning en deelname van alle belanghebbendes.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Economic policy -- Zimbabwe, Economic empowerment programme, UCTD
Citation