Revisiting Zimbabwe's Natural Resource Extraction Dynamics: A Replication Study of Political Economy Analysis

This study revisits previous research on Zimbabwe's natural resource extraction dynamics, focusing on how political and economic factors influence such activities in Central Africa. We use quantitative methods to re-analyse historical data on mining activities in Zimbabwe, employing regression analysis to identify correlations between political stability and resource extraction outcomes. Our replication study reveals that fluctuations in political stability significantly impacted gold production in the late 20th century, with decreases of up to 50% during periods of unrest. The findings confirm the original PEA's hypothesis but underscore the importance of political environment on resource extraction outcomes, offering new insights into policy implications for similar contexts. Policy makers should prioritise enhancing governance and stability in regions with significant natural resources to maximise economic benefits and minimise exploitation risks.