ZIMCODD Index Lays Bare Deep Inequality, Calls for Urgent Reforms

ZIMCODD’s new inequality index exposes deep economic disparities in Zimbabwe, urging government reforms in mining governance, taxation, and social investment (image source)

HARARE — The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) has unveiled a new Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index, exposing deep structural inequalities across Zimbabwe and sparking urgent calls for government action to ensure the nation’s mineral wealth benefits all citizens.

The CRI index evaluates government performance on key areas that shape inequality — including public service delivery, taxation, labour rights, and natural resource governance — and reveals glaring policy failures that have allowed vast resource revenues to escape equitable reinvestment. The report, launched at a public forum attended by legislators, development partners, and community leaders, highlights systemic weaknesses that continue to funnel wealth toward a narrow elite while mining communities remain impoverished.

Speakers at the event pointed out that Zimbabwe’s rich mineral reserves have not translated into better living standards for those most affected by mining activities. The index attributes persistent poverty to weak regulatory oversight, opaque mining contracts, and regressive fiscal regimes. Lawmakers at the launch called for an overhaul of mining and revenue management laws, increased contract transparency, and progressive taxation reforms aimed at redistributing wealth more fairly.

Civil-society representatives echoed these sentiments, advocating for targeted support for vulnerable groups such as artisanal miners, rural communities, and informal workers. They proposed ring-fencing part of mineral revenues for local development projects and investing in public services in affected regions. The index also highlights gender and labour disparities, noting that women and informal workers face disproportionate economic exclusion, which perpetuates intergenerational poverty.

International development partners pledged technical support to translate the findings into tangible policy reforms, including capacity-building for local authorities and participatory budgeting to ensure transparency in how revenues are used. ZIMCODD emphasised that the index should serve as a baseline for accountability, urging the government to commit to inclusive reforms that amplify community voices.

“This index is not an endpoint but a tool to drive accountability and action,” a ZIMCODD spokesperson said, calling for immediate steps to close policy gaps and address structural injustices. As civil-society pressure mounts, all eyes are now on how the government will respond — and whether it can harness Zimbabwe’s natural wealth to promote equitable and sustainable development.