Exploring the Perceived Inequities and Potential Reforms in Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development: A Qualitative Study of Stakeholder Perspectives in Zimbabwe

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an essential tool for mobilizing private investment and expertise to address infrastructure shortfalls globally, especially in developing countries such as Zimbabwe. However, the public sector is frequently harmed and citizens are burdened by Zimbabwe's current PPP frameworks, which calls for an analysis of the financial dynamics and consequences for equity. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceived inequities in Zimbabwe's PPP arrangements. Research gaps include inadequate attention to comprehensively explore perceived inequities and socio-economic impacts across sectors beyond transport, such as energy and healthcare, and a lack of focused, in-depth qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives specific to Zimbabwe, particularly from affected communities and local officials. The study adopts a descriptive and exploratory design, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions with a range of stakeholders. The data was analyzed using NVivo software and thematic analysis. The findings highlight the need for an in-depth qualitative understanding of stakeholder difficulties, demographic variety, and effects on development and financial well-being. While Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have improved infrastructure and local economic prospects, worries about financial strain on local governments, socioeconomic inequality, and environmental sustainability still exist. To promote transparency, justice, and more public benefit, recommendations for restructuring PPPs include equal risk sharing, more robust accountability systems, greater stakeholder participation, and giving priority to initiatives that benefit communities. These changes are necessary to guarantee that PPPs properly support Zimbabwe's aims for sustainable development and cater to the wide range of requirements of its populace.