Section 13: National development
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) The State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must endeavour to facilitate rapid and equitable development, and in particular must take measures to—
(a) promote private initiative and self-reliance;
(b) foster agricultural, commercial, industrial, technological and scientific development;
(c) foster the development of industrial and commercial enterprises in order to empower
Zimbabwean citizens; and
(d) bring about balanced development of the different areas of Zimbabwe, in particular a
proper balance in the development of rural and urban areas.
(2) Measures referred to in this section must involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them.
(3) Measures referred to in this section must protect and enhance the right of the people, particularly women, to equal opportunities in development.
(4) The State must ensure that local communities benefit from the resources in their areas.
This section establishes the government's responsibility to promote equitable development across Zimbabwe. The key insight is that it creates a balanced approach to development by combining:
- Support for private enterprise and self-reliance
- Equal development across both rural and urban areas
- Mandatory community participation in development planning
- Special attention to women's equal opportunities
- A guarantee that local communities benefit from their natural resources
This framework aims to prevent centralized development that benefits only certain regions or groups while ensuring citizens have agency in their economic advancement.