Understanding the Nature of Social Enterprise in Africa: Insights From Zimbabwe

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-16-2025

Abstract

This study provides insights and impetus into the nature of social enterprise and its development in Zimbabwe. Though the discourse on social enterprise has emerged as a powerful intervention to address socio-economic challenges, less is known about its metamorphosis in countries in the global South, specifically Sub-Saharan Africa. Like many countries in this region, Zimbabwe is confronted by numerous challenges, such as rising unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity due to persistent structural problems and the need to reduce budget deficits. This study contributes to addressing this gap in knowledge by scrutinizing four social enterprises based in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, using a qualitative case study approach. A semi-structured interview guide was employed to solicit data from key informants. By using components of the Neo-Institutional theoretical approach, this investigation unravels and explicates that the creation, development, and scaling of social enterprises in Zimbabwe are greatly influenced by the environment in which they operate. In addition, the creativity of the entrepreneurs in harnessing social capital, improvising, and utilizing resources at hand is pivotal to the survival and longevity of their business operations in a demanding and challenging economic environment.

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Originally published in the Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Publication Title

Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2025.2503120

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