Framework for US assistance in Southern Africa; country resource paper : Rhodesia

This report is a profile of Zimbabwe and includes a general background discussion of the physical features, demography, and culture. The economic overview describes the salient features of the economy, the institutional structure, foreign trade, the dynamics of Rhodesia"s economy, problems of transition to majority rule, and a simulation exercise on long-run considerations. Sector analyses are included on agriculture, mining and minerals, transportation, energy, health education, population, and industry. Rhodesia"s Gross National Product (GNP), estimated in 1975 at $2 billion, qualifies the country as a major economic power of sub-Saharan Africa. The economy of Rhodesia is more highly diversified and sophisticated than is typical for countries with a comparable GNP per capita. Because of this high degree of diversification, Rhodesia"s economy is inherently more stable than the economies of countries highly dependent on income derived from one or two internationally traded commodities. The products manufactured by the Rhodesian industry include consumer non-durables, as well as consumer durables and capital goods. In 1973, metals and metal products accounted for 23% of the gross output, foodstuffs 22%, chemicals and petroleum products 13% and textiles 10%. The manufacturing sector faces two problems; since the country is landlocked there is no direct access to seaports and investors are hesitant to commit capital to a country with such a high degree of political uncertainty.