Corporate social responsibility as a drive to community development and poverty reduction: A stakeholder approach to development in Zimbabwe

Addmore T Muruviwa,Wilson Akpan,Fhulu H Nekhwevha

doi:10.4102/td.v14i1.440

Abstract

Background: The emergence of a ‘Southern’ discourse of corporate social responsibility (CSR) highlight the crucial issues of poverty reduction, infrastructure development and the broader questions of social provisioning and community development. Aim: This study builds on existing knowledge to reveal how CSR has become a drive or aid in the community development discourse and poverty reduction mechanisms. This was done through the analysis of major CSR projects by Zimplats mining company. Setting: The study was carried out in Mhondoro-Ngezi, Zimbabwe, which is in a rural setting. Method: The study employed a triangulated design, with data collected using a mini-survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews. Results: The key findings are that the fundamental roles of CSR have been to link it to addressing under-development and poverty reduction issues in developing countries. Conclusion: Through distributional CSR activities, the mining company was able to address the health, educational, employment and water needs of the local people.

Highlights

Business and society relations have remained a major discussion topic in the academic and research arena over the past decades
The analysis of the results of this study have shown that Zimplats mining company has played a fundamental role through corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in Mhondoro-Ngezi for community development purposes and poverty reduction
The conclusion derived from this study is that with diverse crises ranging from the social, economic, health related and environmental, CSR in developing countries has been become a complementary mechanism used by businesses to address such issues

Summary

Introduction

Business and society relations have remained a major discussion topic in the academic and research arena over the past decades. This relationship revolves around a number of issues including economic, environmental, ethical and social. According to Carroll and Buchholtz (2009:5), ‘ the business system has served society well, criticisms of business and its practices have become commonplace in recent years’. These criticisms have come from the lack of commitment by business to the environmental and socio-economic development of society. The emergence of a ‘Southern’ discourse of corporate social responsibility (CSR) highlight the crucial issues of poverty reduction, infrastructure development and the broader questions of social provisioning and community development

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion