Abstract
The transformation of rural places is characterized by structural changes. These involve changes in economic activities, usually from agricultural to nonagricultural. The changes take place in space resulting in the transformation of spaces by effecting changes to the socioeconomic and biophysical characteristics of spaces. This chapter examines the growth and expansion and interrogates the sustainability of small rural towns that are a resultant effect of rural transformation, providing answers to the questions: What are the main factors behind the growth and expansion of small rural towns? How sustainable are the small rural towns? Focusing on Zimbabwe, the study adopts a qualitative approach making use of desktop review and key informant interviews with provincial heads in the Department of Spatial Planning and Management and planners in selected rural district councils which oversee the development of most rural towns. Findings show that the growth of most small rural towns in Zimbabwe is a result of the government’s policy to address unequal development. It is also revealed that rural transformation is both a cause and an effect of the growth and expansion of small rural towns. The sustainability of such towns is, however, questionable due to the nature of growth that is taking place in the small towns. Conclusions made in this chapter are that the management of rural transformation is weak and not well planned and coordinated. It is recommended that models of rural towns be developed to give a framework of sustainable rural town development and to ensure that they are integrated into rural space and the network of other cities and towns.
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Matai, J., Musakwa, W., Chirisa, I. (2022). Growth, Expansion, and Future of Small Rural Towns. In: Brears, R.C. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_72
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