Forgotten Projects in Zimbabwe: Why Developmental Mega Projects Fail and Delay

Abstract

Developmental projects are a beacon of socioeconomic and political growth and stability in the developing world [29]. Projects in Africa and beyond are an instrument of achieving the much needed development that makes a positive growth trajectory. Projects can be locally funded whilst others can have international sponsorships. The success indicators of project ventures are what attract project capital in any specific country. However, in Africa most high level projects are faced with a lot of challenges thereby rendering them to fail and in turn cause the flight of project capital. This research tries to understand the psychological concept of macro-projects failure in Zimbabwe. The major objective is to understand why developmental projects are failing and what can be done to change these failure into success stories. The findings were generated through qualitative methods with the use of desk research and secondary data with particular focus to secondary in-depth interviews of key informants involved in the chosen projects. Reliability and validity was arrived at through collaborating data gathered from interviews with those from documentary search. Results revealed that projects operate within certain spheres or environments. The sphere has to be compatible with the project objectives in order for them to be successfully implemented. It was recommended that there has to be a national project policy that addresses how projects should operate and coordinated on the backdrop of the above spheres. Zimbabwe is recommended to develop a National Project Policy that will guide the execution of high level interventions in order to minimise failure and increase the success of all projects.