moving forward in zimbabwe: reducing poverty and promoting productivity
Post on 25-Dec-2014
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Moving Forward in Zimbabwe: Reducing Poverty
and Promoting Productivity
Admos Chimhowu
The Report
Analyses ultimate and penultimate causes of the crisis
Discusses the effects of the crisis on the economy and general welfare of citizens
Suggests ways of ensuring poverty focused reconstruction and development
The Report: Key Messages
Economic recovery should be poverty focused
Recovery should target areas that can deliver economic growth that translates directly into rapid improved welfare conditions to the majority rather than a minority
Evidence in some post-crisis states shows economic growth can occur without poverty reduction unless clear pathways are established on how overall growth translates into better welfare conditions for the poor.
Pathways for Poverty Focused Recovery
Poverty focused recovery should be agriculture-led
Historical link between agricultural growth and overal GDP growth means recovery in this sector determines what happens to other productive sectors.
A majority of Zimbabweans still reside in rural areas for most of their time and derive MOST of their livelihood off the land
Focusing on agriculture is therefore the most direct way to get these households out of poverty- rising rural incomes
Elements of Agriculture-led Strategy
Initial focus on smallholder farmers who now have access to about two thirds of agricultural land
Quick wins on food security from communal farmers and old resettlement areas- free inputs for three years for all
Restoring support systems
Links to markets
Elements of Agriculture-led Strategy
Focus on sorting out remaining issues of the post 2000 land reform
Secure tenure for the new farmers, audit to establish occupancy
Utilisation levels-taxation?
Compensation of former owners in ways that can enhance investment in other areas
Projectised development of A1
Recapitalisation of commercial agriculture via state assisted markets
Education
Restoration of appropriate support levels-recapitalisation of education
Enhance synergy between human capital formation and skills needed by the economy
Focus not only on those in education but also victims of the crisis or NEETS- not in education, employment or training
Health
Restoration of health system and planning
Establishing appropriate funding levels
Restoring services and human resource capacity
Recapitalization
Integration of programmes led by non-state actors into a central state-led system.
Environment
Changes in land use imply need for
Environmental Audit to establish the state of the environment in Zimbabwe
Revitalisation of state institutions at national and sub-national level
Enhanced engagement with emerging international discourses especially on climate change
Social Protection
Need to come up with comprehensive policy on social protection
Continued focus on OVCs but shift from food packs to conditional cash transfers- health and education
Introduce work relief programmes when there is state institutional capacity to implement
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