Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a comprehensive background to the economic and political developments in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. It explains the history of record keeping and data collection; population growth; changes in occupational structure; and the history of work and labour in that territory. The book highlights the important work on various industrial sectors, and the main debates on work and labour in these respective countries and sectors. It explores Zimbabwe, and then moves on to Zambia and Malawi. The book then provides an overview of how occupational structures have changed in these countries over time and the main drivers of those changes. It discusses the main economic sectors in each country. The book emphasises the comparative dimension and presents an overview of how such industries as mining, commercial agriculture and manufacture developed across these three territories over the twentieth century.