The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and poverty reduction in Zimbabwe : the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA)

This study sought to analyse the role of official development assistance (ODA) from international developmental partnerships in reducing poverty in accordance with the aims of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research methodology was used and interview guides were developed in order to put open-ended questions to the participants in one-on-one face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. The data which was collected was subjected to thematic analysis. Among the findings which emerged was that the implementation of interventions to meet MDGs and reduce poverty in Zimbabwe had been hindered by both internal and external factors. Internal factors included corruption, underinvestment in industry, an untaxed underground economy, and political instability, the inconsistent implementation of policies, a weak judiciary, and excessive dependence upon ODA. Conversely, external factors included ODA which failed to enable the root causes of poverty to be tackled, attempting to remedy the symptoms of poverty rather than the real causes, the misuse of hegemonic economic and political power by foreign developmental partners, the inequitable distribution of ODA, ODA which entailed conditionalities, and soured relations with foreign donors. From the findings it was concluded that the most effective means of reducing poverty effectively in Zimbabwe lay in investing in developing internal sources of revenue. ODA should be used only to supplement interventions to reduce poverty in a sustainable manner and promote inclusive economic growth in the interests of equity. In order to generate the ODA which is needed to begin the process of economic recovery, Zimbabwe needs to re-engage with foreign developmental partners in a manner which ensures that partnerships are mutually beneficial. The injustices of the past should not be used to account for the failure to meet the MDGs and the deepening poverty in Zimbabwe, as they are not the consequences of the white minority rule of the past, but rather of present-day political ineptitude. Consequently, it is imperative that Zimbabwe should concentrate its efforts on developing the means to raise revenue for development and limit its dependence upon ODA. Holding onto the past by blaming the targeted sanctions, white minority rule, and colonialism will not enable the poverty in which many Zimbabweans in the post-independence era are mired to be meaningfully reduced through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have superceded the MDGs to be achieved by 2030