ABSTRACT
Zimbabwe is a land locked country in Southern Africa bordered by Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia with a land area of 390245 square kilometres. The population at the last census was 7.5 million, with 47.3 per cent aged 14 and below, and 3 per cent in the 65 plus age bracket. In the period 1900 to 1930 manufactured products were mainly imported from overseas for consumption requirements of the settler community. The country had a typical colonial economic base with extraction and export of raw materials as the important foundation. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formed in 1953. Its basis was a common market approach to development. This arrangement had a very profound effect on the growth and development of the local economy. Southern Rhodesia was the seat of Federal government, and stood to benefit most from the federation.
