The state is defined as the whole set of public institutions responsible for administration and

enforcement of policy decisions for example traditional leaders, district administrators,

provincial administration office, governors office, line ministries, government departments,
local planning authority, police and army. The main role of the state is governance which is then
sub-divided into different sectors and these are the judiciary, representative, administration,
which refers to the crafting of policies, law and order and security and national security in
general. Rural development can be defined as improving the living standards of the low income
population residing in rural areas and making the process of the development self-sustaining
(Hanyani, B.2002)

In the Zimbabwean rural economy and other countries in Africa, agriculture is the activity that
the rural populace derives their livelihood from. Because of this fact the role of the state is to
provide adequate land, inputs, subsidies, policies and other services required in this sector.
Zimbabwe as a state has tried to give policies and programmes that address the issue of land.
Soon after independence the state introduced the land reform programmes which saw the sub-
dividing of the large tracts of land which were owned by the whites into smaller ones which
accommodated many black farmers in the country. Agricultural extension plays an important
catalytic role in agricultural and rural development. It brings the farming community information
and new technologies that can be adopted to improve production, incomes and standards of
living. Agricultural extension provides a channel through which farmers problems can be
identified for research and for the modification of agricultural policies to the benefit of rural
communities (Hanyani, B.T 2002). The extension system also provides a framework through
which farmers are organized into functional groups in order to gain access to production
resources such as credit, inputs, marketing services and information on government development
programmes. The state in a bid to provide these extension services to the rural people for
development, the Department of Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX)
was formed as the Zimbabwean governments principal extension agency, which farmers use for
development.

As the other role of the state in rural development is to provide farm inputs, in 2008, the state
initiatiated the Farm Mechanization Programme which was spearheaded by the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ) in 2008. This programme provided the farmers with inputs like fertilizers,
seeds, combine harvesters and tractors in the rural areas (namnews online). This programme
facilitates for the development of the rural agricultural sector which has also a positive bearing
on the rural economy as a whole.

Furthermore the other role of the state is to provide programmes for the conservation of natural
resources for sustainable development in the rural areas. The Communal Areas Management
Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) was initiated by the government of
Zimbabwe as a community based conservation programme, this works with rural district
councils, which are granted authority to market access to wildlife in their district to safari
operators. These in turn sell hunting and photographic safaris to mostly foreign sport hunters and
eco-tourists. Campfire has been practiced in Binga and other rural areas and this has led to rural
development in terms of infrastructure building. Rural district councils also have been tasked
with the task of coordinating development projects in the rural areas. All organizations
implementing rural development projects come through the RDCs.Among the rural development
programmes that are coordinated by RDCs is CARE Internationals Small Dams Rehabilitation
Programme which also involve AGRITEX and other bodies, and thus the role of the state is to
coordinate rural development programmes (Malinga.W.2011).

The state also is responsible for the provision of public goods like roads, security and defense in
the rural areas. In terms of road provision the role was decentralized to the District Development
Fund and District Councils. The state also in Zimbabwe has introduced the rural electrification
programme through the Ministry of Energy.

However, although the state has played a number of significant role in relation to rural
development in Zimbabwe. Many of the programmes it initiated are hampered by financial
constraints, lack of transparency in decentralized authorities, HIV/AIDS . These pressing issues
like HIV/AIDS make it difficult for the state to effectively play its role as development issues
like infrastructure building now become a luxury.

In conclusion, there is need for full stakeholder participation in the development of the rural
areas, community participation is an essential component that helps in facilitating rural
sustainable development. Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) should also be encouraged
in providing rural development projects and programmes as these act as development catalysts.
References

Hanyani, B.T (2002) Strengthening the pluralistic agricultural extension: A Zimbabwean case
study.Fao: Italy

Makumbe, J (1996) Participatory Development: The Case of Zimbabwe, UZ Publications,

Harare

Malinga, W. (2011) Rural Development: Engaging communities in participatory development in

Africa.www.articlesbase.com/

Smith, L (2002) Decentralization and Rural Development: The Role of the Public and Private
Sector in the Provision of Agriculture Support Services;
www.ftp.fao.org.docrep/fao/006/a692e/ad92e00.pdf(accessed 29-04-12)

http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=20206(accessed 29-04-12)
 UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL AND URBAN PLANNING

NAME: CHIZA. HARRISON.T

REG No: R109436R

PROGRAMME: HRUP 2

COURSE CODE: RURAL PLANNING, ECONOMY AND THE STATE (RUP 212)

LECTURER: MR NDLOVU

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION:

Using practical examples discuss the role of the state in relation to rural development in
Zimbabwe

DUE DATE: 02 MAY 2012