Survey: Most Zimbabweans Say Country Going in Wrong Direction, Want Govt InterventionA growing majority of Zimbabweans say their country is going in the wrong direction, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey. In a statement, Afrobarometer said key findings of a recent poll indicated that as the country’s economy continues in deep distress, citizens cite management of the economy and unemployment as the most important problems that the government must address. More than seven in 10 Zimbabweans (72%) say the country is going in the wrong direction, up from 60% in 2017 and 67% in 2021. Afrobarometer says the view that the country is heading in the wrong direction is particularly common among urban residents (79%), poor citizens (87%), and respondents with secondary (75%) or post-secondary (77%) education. “Management of the economy (cited by 45% of respondents) and unemployment (43%) are the most important problems that Zimbabweans want their government to address. Infrastructure/roads (29%) and water supply (26%) come next on citizens’ list of priorities for government action.” The survey shows that urban residents are more likely than their rural counterparts to prioritise management of the economy (51% vs. 41%), unemployment (48% vs. 40%), water supply (32% vs. 22%), and corruption (21% vs. 14%). Food shortage is considered a more urgent problem in rural areas (22%) than in cities (6%).” Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Eight survey rounds in up to 39 countries have been completed since 1999. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice. The Afrobarometer team in Zimbabwe, led by the Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI), interviewed 1,200 adult citizens of Zimbabwe between 28 March and 10 April 2022. “A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.” Previous surveys were conducted in Zimbabwe in 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2021.