Contribution of Social Entrepreneurship to Sustainable Community Development in Zimbabwe. A Case of Virtuous Women Trust Operating in Harare

Abstract

The cross-sectional study was aimed at assessing the contribution of social entrepreneurship to sustainable community development in Zimbabwe using case study approach. The behavioural theory of social entrepreneurship and the community development theory guided the study. Mixed research methods were used guided by the pragmatist research philosophy. A case study was used with a sample of 80 participants selected from four farming communities in and around Harare using stratified random sampling and judgement sampling techniques. Data collection was done through questionnaires and interviews. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0 for quantitative data, NVIVO and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The findings indicate that there is limited knowledge of social entrepreneurship concept amongst research participants. However, there was greater appreciation of the sustainable community development concept. The findings also revealed that there are some challenges for the social entrepreneurship ventures and the communities that retard sustainable community development in the country. The study recommends proper information dissemination channels, more capacity building initiatives through specific grants to support social entrepreneurship organisations and the crafting of an Act that guides social entrepreneurship ventures independent of other NGOs.