Citation :

Gerald Munyoro, Norbert Hosho, Arnold Maviya, 2026. "Citizen Participation, Regional Economic Adjustment and Prospects for Inclusive Growth in Murewa District, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe" ESP International Journal of Science, Humanities & Management Studies(ESP-IJSHMS)  Volume 4, Issue 4: 91-103.

Abstract :

Regional economic adjustment in rural Zimbabwe is shaped by historical disruption, agricultural dependence, infrastructure deficits, demographic change and uneven access to markets and services. Drawing on regional development and inclusive-growth perspectives, this study examines how Murewa District can convert its productive and locational advantages into broad-based development. A pragmatic mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative evidence from household and stakeholder surveys with qualitative evidence from interviews to assess livelihoods, infrastructure, employment, institutional capacity and economic opportunities. Findings indicate that adjustment is occurring primarily through agricultural diversification, horticulture, informal enterprise and other livelihood strategies rather than deep structural transformation. Murewa’s proximity to Harare creates substantial market opportunities, but inadequate irrigation, unreliable electricity, weak feeder roads, limited finance and constrained institutional capacity restrict value addition and productive employment. Devolution has improved local accessibility, although resource and implementation constraints remain. The evidence suggests that inclusive growth is conditional rather than automatic: agricultural and metropolitan advantages generate limited developmental gains unless supported by resilient infrastructure, agro-processing, enterprise finance, skills and capable local institutions. Murewa’s prospects depend on shifting from coping-oriented adjustment towards coordinated structural transformation that links agriculture, value chains, employment, infrastructure, climate resilience and participatory local governance. The study contributes a district-level perspective on how historical vulnerabilities can be transformed into more inclusive and resilient regional development.

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Keywords :

Regional Economic Adjustment, Inclusive Growth, Murewa District, Agricultural Diversification, Structural Transformation, Infrastructure, Devolution, Rural Development