Developmental inequality and living on the margins in post-colonial Zimbabwe: the case of Musana District

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.