Editorial 
The level of analysis presented in the different papers of this issue of the 
journal is varied, and the only point of commonality is that of the four 
papers' explicit reference to African examples either in terms of country 
(Kenya, Zimbabwe) or of some of the continent's social problems 
(urbanisation), or in terms of its ability to solve these kinds of problems 
(social services in rural areas). A new feature is that of a forum for expanded 
reviews, entitled Review Articles. 
In the paper entitled "Rural Growth Points in Zimbabwe" Wekwete looks 
at an often neglected aspect of rural development, that of the stimulation 
and growth of rural settlements through a variety of means — central and 
local government policy, planning rural investments, along with complementary 
activities. In examining the Zimbabwean example, he concludes 
that it is important to strike a balance between promoting locally based 
activities and those coming from outside, and argues that genuine 
development of rural growth points can only be meaningful where there is 
an improvement of rural incomes and where capital flows allow for greater 
access and utilisation of government social services. 
Patel's paper, "Some Issues of Urbanisation and Development in 
Zimbabwe", complements Wekwete's paper by focusing on the historical 
development of the problem of urbanisation in Africa, and particularly in 
Zimbabwe, and the rapid rise in urbanisation which has taken place in the 
latter half of the century. Patel notes that attempts to deal with problems of 
rapid urbanisation, the primacy of a few larger cities, and overurbanisation in 
Zimbabwe are being made — specifically in relation to redressing the ruralurban 
imbalances in the distribution of services and resources. One such 
strategy is that of growth points and service centres. However she also sees 
that more investment is required in urban areas if the former racial 
imbalances within the urban areas is not to be replaced by socio-economic 
divisions, and calls for more research to define the baseline data necessary to 
inform urban and rural development policy decisions. 
Rural growth points may be one important vehicle for the delivery of 
social services, but Muzaale presents a wider spectrum of interventions, and 
designates them all as 'social development'. "Organisation and Delivery of 
Social Services to Rural Areas" is a discussion of the strategies of meeting 
social needs in rural areas following market and non-market criteria, and is 
thus a useful complement to Wekwete's focus on planning economic 
incentives. Both papers, however, recognise that the balance between equity
and growth is difficult to specify in concrete terms, let alone achieve. In 
discussing the various implications of a focus on rural social services 
Muzaale concludes by mentioning the necessary research agenda implied 
for social development education. His suggestions carry forward a previous 
set of proposals featured in an earlier issue of the Journal (Vol 2, No 1 1987), 
and as they focus on vulnerable rural households and the survivaLsystems 
they adopt, provide a useful and practical challenge to practitioners and 
researchers across all disciplines involved in social development. 
Mulwa describes a development education programme from Kenya so as 
to illustrate in a practical way his theme, "Participation of the Grassroots in 
Rural Development". Readers of this journal will be familiar with previous 
analyses of the subject: Mulwa seems able to take the discussion forward 
because he describes both the theory and the practice of participation, the 
vision combined with the practical blocks and constraints. His apparendy 
contradictory finding that participatory development is only possible where 
there is skilled and dedicated leadership leads him to conclude that effective 
leadership training is a central element of successful participatory 
development. 
The two review articles in this issue of the journal offer critical 
examinations of two recent important books. Roger Riddell has written a 
detailed study entided Foreign Aid Reconsidered. Together with another 
study edited by Ibbo Mandaza entided Zimbabwe: The Political Economy 
of Transition they are reviewed in some depth in a new section of our 
journal, that of Review Articles. We hope that readers find value in this 
extended forum for book reviews.