Political Incumbency and Drought Relief in Africa

Ngonidzashe Munemo

Global Development Institute Working Paper Series from GDI, The University of Manchester

Abstract: Since gaining independence, a number of African governments have responded to protect citizens from drought-induced threats of famine. Government relief has either involved limited disbursements of food aid and large income restoring labour-intensive public works programme for the able bodied (labour-based relief), or the universal distribution of free food aid (free food aid). This paper examines why some African governments select policies of universal food relief, while others adopt food-for-work or work-for-cash programmes. Through the use of the concept of the vulnerability of political incumbency, I explore the factors that shape policy selection by political leaderships. This idea is then tested in Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. In find that that the political status of incumbents determines whether government relief comes in the form of universal aid or labour-based relief.

Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bwp:bwppap:0307

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