The Primacy of Regime Survival

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 1-17

3. The Economics of State Fragility

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 19-43

4. Zimbabwe’s First Decade: Building the One-Party State and Controlling the Economy

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 45-60

5. Regime Interests and the Failure of Economic Reform in the 1990s

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 61-86

6. Regime Survival and the Fast Track Land Reform Programme

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 87-119

7. Regime Survival and the Attack on the Urban Poor

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 121-138

8. Regime Survival: Poverty Creation, Mass Migration and Elite Enrichment

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 139-163

9. International Isolation and the Search for New Friends

   • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

   Pages 165-193

10. Economic Meltdown and Elections

    • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

    Pages 195-225

11. The Challenges of Cohabitation

    • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

    Pages 227-246

12. Protecting the ZANU-PF State: Safeguarding Extractive Political Structures

    • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

    Pages 247-283

13. Protecting the ZANU-PF State: Safeguarding Extractive Economic Institutions

    • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

    Pages 285-306

14. A Resurgent ZANU-PF

    • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

    Pages 307-334

15. The Transitions That Weren’t

    • Mark Simpson, Tony Hawkins

    Pages 335-379

16. Back Matter

    Pages 381-391

    PDF

This book analyses the past and ongoing decline of Zimbabwe under the rule of ZANU-PF, with a primary focus on the period 1997 to the present. In contrast to much existing literature on post-independence Zimbabwe which has focused on the political dimensions of Zimbabwe’s fragility, this research highlights the economic aspects of Zimbabwe’s regression flowing from prolonged mismanagement of the economy which has served to consolidate the rule of the country’s political and economic elite. The Zimbabwean experience offers unique insights into the economic mensions of regime preservation. This book situates the Zimbabwe experience within the context of wider debates within the field of development studies, and the international community’s response to such situations.

• Fragile States
• Zimbabwe economics
• African development
• Liberation movements
• Single-party states
• Economic regression
• Political repression

“The book, no doubt, is useful to not only policy makers in Zimbabwe and beyond, but to undergraduate and graduate candidates in Economics, Economic History as well as those with musings in State Fragility in Africa, Southern Africa specifically. More interesting is that, the book contributes to literature on the Zimbabwe crises beyond Mugabe centric narratives with ZANU-PF being the main focus of analysis.” (Brian Maregedze, Harare 24, harare24.com, Januray 03, 2019)

“The destruction of Zimbabwe’s economy and institutions over the last four decades has been nothing short of spectacular. This carefully researched book shows that the cause of this carnage is the attempts of Robert Mugabe’s regime to survive by polarizing society, rewarding the regime’s cronies and weakening the economy. A must-read for anybody interested in learning from Zimbabwe’s mistakes so that we can better defend against other autocrats doing the same.” (Daron Acemoglu, Elizabeth and James Killian, Professor of Economics at MIT, and co-author of Why Nations Fail - The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty)

“If you want an authoritative, dispassionate and forensic analysis of Zimbabwe’s catastrophic economic decline, set in political context, go straight for this definitive work by Hawkins and Simpson. Their exposure of the way the country’s ruling Zanu-PF party turned a oncethriving economy into a milch cow for an elite, whilst systematically subjugating dissent and enforcing an increasingly despotic regime, makes for an engrossing read. The authors pose some awkward questions about the performance of the IMF and the World Bank: should they have done more to expose Mugabe’s venal regime? And above all, are they in danger of making the same mistake when dealing with the new regime of President Emmerson Mnangagwa?” (Michael Holman, former Africa editor of the Financial Times)

“The book describes the economic and political history of post-independence Zimbabwe. It focusses on the causes of the country’s economic collapse, and details the policies and processes that drove it. It is the only volume I’ve seen of its kind that covers the entire post-independence period. The referencing is outstanding and it shows genuine scholarship. Its primary strength is readability. It is a book that an interested layman would find fascinating and I’d see the international diplomatic and economic community being genuinely interested. It is also well referenced, bringing in both general theory and local documents. Both authors have impeccable credentials.” (Tony Leiman, former Director of the Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit)

 “When it comes to understanding the huge challenge of doing business and trying to make sustainable economic policy in Zimbabwe and across the continent, no one knows more about the history, theory and harsh realities than Tony Hawkins. At a time of momentous change in Harare and across Southern Africa, this timely study with coauthor Mark Simpson is a must read for anyone who wants to know if economic prospects are set to take a turn for the better. And I’m pretty sure I know what the Hawkins view will be - ‘Don’t hold your breath!’” (Ed Balls, Former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (2011–2015) and Economic Secretary (HM Treasury, 2006–2007))

• University of London, London, United Kingdom

  Mark Simpson

• University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

  Tony Hawkins

Mark Simpson is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study of the University of London, UK. He previously served in UN peacekeeping missions in Angola and East Timor and worked for UNDP in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Tony Hawkins is former Professor of Economics at the Graduate School of Business, University of Zimbabwe. He is a consultant for an international bank, and one of the two lead authors of the SADC Industrialization Strategy (2015). He served on the Board of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Monetary Policy Committee (2010–2014).

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