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European Journal of Social Sciences Studies ISSN: 2501-8590 ISSN-L: 2501-8590 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/soc Volume 2 │ Issue 8 │ 2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1019984 CONCEPTUALISING SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INEQUALITIES IN ZIMBABWE: A SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE Evans Chazirenii, Boycen Kumira Mudzengi Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe Abstract: Currently, Zimbabwe has numerous development problems that need attention. One area of concern is the spatial inequality in levels of socioeconomic development between regions within the country. In this paper, the spatial pattern of socioeconomic development in Zimbabwe is analysed and the administrative districts are ranked from highest to lowest according to levels of socioeconomic developments. Both primary and secondary data were used to collect data on thirteen indicators of development. The data were analysed using the geometric mean method. The analysis of data revealed that certain areas in Zimbabwe have relatively high levels of development while others have low levels of development or no development at all. Keywords: socioeconomic development inequalities, conceptualising, spatial perspective, Zimbabwe 1. Introduction Socioeconomic development in space is generally uneven at all levels, at local level, national level, continental level and even global level. Development refers to the process of economic, social and political change which enhances the wellbeing of the inhabitants of a region (Chazireni, 2015). Perhaps the most evident manifestation of disparities in socioeconomic activities at the national level is the differences in levels of development between urban and rural areas. Spatial development inequalities between regions within a country arise over a long period of time and are the result of the Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 239 Evans Chazireni, Boycen Kumira Mudzengi CONCEPTUALISING SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INEQUALITIES IN ZIMBABWE: A SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE interaction between people and their political, physical, social, economic and cultural environments. Certain areas in Zimbabwe have relatively high levels of development while others have low levels of development or no development at all. The degree of spatial variation in economic activities and levels of development in the national economy can have far reaching implications in terms of development planning and policy formation. Information on the spatial pattern of socioeconomic development in Zimbabwe can contribute to development planning, policymaking and implementation. Such socioeconomic inequalities within a national economy often create social, political and economic problems. The objective of this paper is to investigate the uneven spatial pattern of socioeconomic development in Zimbabwe. For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/soc/index.php/EJSSS/article/view/229 European Journal of Social Sciences Studies - Volume 2 │ Issue 8 │ 2017 240