Corporate social responsibility as a tool to accelerate the achievement of development goals in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The aim of this study is to critically analyse corporate social responsibility as a tool to accelerate the achievement of development goals in Zimbabwe. The main question is how CSR can be used to speed up the achievement of development goals? The paper will focus on how CSR can be used to achieve national development goals and MDGs that will soon be integrated into SDGs. Attention will be paid to MDG1 which goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; and MDG 5 which aims to improve maternal health and national development goals in Zimbabwe. The research is guided by the following objectives: 1. To examine international, regional and national legal frameworks that seek to promote corporate social responsibility in Zimbabwe. 2. To establish the connection between CSR and development goals in Zimbabwe, and explore how CSR can be used as a tool to fast-track the achievement of national development goals and UN development goals. The paper will investigate the efforts made by the Zimbabwean government to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and to improve maternal health. The two MDGs are proving to be difficult to be achieved by the end of 2015. 3. To recommend measures that would facilitate the promotion of CSR into Zimbabwean companies and assist the government in achieving the developmental goals within the specified time frame.