An account of the slump of the timber industry in Bulawayo and its effects on workers, 2007 – 2018

Abstract

Although the deindustrialization subject in Zimbabwe has been touched upon by many historians, none of their works address the demise of the timber industry in Bulawayo. The Timber Industry played a pertinent role in sustaining livelihoods of the people in Bulawayo through the creation of employment. Its plunge affected the livelihoods of people in Bulawayo however this has not captured scholarly attention. Consequently, this research brings to the fore the factors that led to the fall of the timber industry in Bulawayo and also investigate the effects of industrial collapse upon workers (2007 – 2018). The thesis shows that collapse of the timber industry laid squarely on internal, economic and political crises. Government policies will be drawn into attention to show how they pinned down the timber industry. The study will also focus on the plight of workers after industrial closure and tactics employed by the workers to keep their heads above the water. In this manner, this study will also reveal that while the story of the collapse of the timber industry is not pleasant to tell, it presented opportunities to some workers. Government strategies to promote small scale timber companies will be reviewed. Last but not least, this thesis will examine the factors that ensured the survival and growth of small scale timber companies despite the economic meltdown. This research utilized primary and secondary sources to gather information.