Historical Overview of Small and Medium Enterprise Policies in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean small and medium enterprises (SMEs), since independence in 1980, have struggled for survival and development due to a plethora of challenges. The government responded by implementing policies and strategies to address the challenges confronting SMEs. This article gives a country perspective and historical understanding of the SME policies and strategies at play within Zimbabwe. The researchers contribute to the understanding of the dynamics surrounding SMEs particularly in developing countries by providing a historical account of the policy issues and strategies used to ensure growth of the sector. Methodologically, the study adopted a critical analysis of literature related to SME policies in Zimbabwe. The researchers drew insights from different government policy documents and pieces of legislation since 1980. The results of the analysis indicate that the policies and strategies, to a larger extent, have not yielded the required results, and largely not addressed the major challenges confronting SMEs.