Since early 1987, the ODI has been engaged on a major piece of research under the general title: 'Industrialisation in sub-Saharan Africa ', involving in-depth case studies of seven African countries: Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The case study work falls into two distinct parts. First an analysis of the industrialisation process from the early 1960s to the mid-1990s, followed by discussion of the options for and possibilities of accelerated industrialisation the late 1980s and 1990s. This Working Paper presents the first phase of the research for Zimbabwe.

The study concludes that the story of industrialisation in Zimbabwe is one of success. However, this success provides few guarantees for the future unless changes take place to address the problems now facing the sector.