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DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA DROUGHT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN ZIMBABWE: THE CASE OF MWENEZI DISTRICT By MAGAISA DAVID FARAI (201013374) DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL SCIENCES IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES SUPERVISOR: DR. W KACHERE DATE: 15 December 2015 Abstract Drought remains a huge challenge in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe. The study investigated the effectiveness of drought management strategies and poverty alleviation in Zimbabwe with particular focus on Mwenezi District. In order to come up with a comprehensive investigation, the researcher grounded the study in sustainable livelihood approach and the community driven development theory. Due to drought being the number one disaster in Zimbabwe, the government and NGOs have collectively come up with strategies aimed at ameliorating the impact of drought in the area. The study employed a qualitative methodology as it provided an understanding and description of people’s personal experiences of drought. The study investigated the roles of both the government and NGOs involved in drought management in the district. NGOs and Government institutions charged with drought relief implement various programmes designed to manage drought in this area. This study’s findings were that cattle rearing, provision of food aid, provision of seed packs, supplementary feeding, among other programmes, are being implemented in the district to curb drought. Local people in the area have adopted a number of strategies so as to cope with drought effects. These strategies include growing of drought-resistant crops, livestock selling, change of farming methods, informal cross- border trading and establishing gardening plots. The Zimbabwean government has been criticised for being reactive rather than being proactive when it comes to drought management. The study further calls for improved and effective policies to tackle drought and poverty in the area. Effective monitoring and evaluation of programmes designed to manage drought should be prioritised if ever drought is to be effectively managed. i Declaration I, the undersigned, hereby make a declaration that this dissertation entitled: ‘Drought Management Strategies and Poverty Alleviation in Zimbabwe: The Case of Mwenezi District’, is the product of my own work. All the sources that I have quoted or used have been acknowledged or indicated by means of completed references. I also declare that this dissertation has not been previously submitted and will not be presented at any other institution. ……………………………….. Signature ______/_______/_2015____ Date ii Acknowledgements Through Him all things are possible. Thank you God Almighty for granting me inspiration and strength to complete this study. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. W. Kachere for her care, dedication and excellent guidance. I really appreciate you Doc. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to my family members, Hastings, Gift, Simbisai and Leniency for your unwavering support. To my brother, Trust and wife Mercy, words cannot express how much I appreciate your support throughout the course of my studies, without you guys, achieving this dream would have been impossible. May the Almighty God bless you abundantly and exceedingly. My nephew, Shingirirai and wife, Nombuso, thank you for your hospitality, support and words of encouragement; again without you, this would have been difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish. I am appreciative of my friends whom I shared memories and experiences during the course of my study. Special thanks to Nosizo Ncube for being a friend par excellence. To Joseph Budzi and Kennias Chigwaya, thank you guys, for your friendship kept me going. It is your words of wisdom and encouragement that I will forever cherish. iii Dedications I dedicate this study to my late parents, Mr and Mrs Magaisa, who taught me the value of education, the essence of hard work, perseverance and determination, but never lived to see my work. iv List of acronyms AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere CBOs Community Based Organizations CFN Cluster for Food and Nutrition CFSAM Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa CSO Central Statistics Office DFID Department for International Development DMP Drought Management Plan EWS Early Warning Systems FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FDI Foreign Direct Investment FTLRP Fast Land Reform Programme FWP Food for Work Programme GLS Grain Loan Scheme GMB Grain Marketing Board GOZ Government of Zimbabwe v KPA Key Performance Areas MDGs Millennium Developmental Goals MLGPW &UD Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development NEPC National Economic Planning Commission NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NMDC National Drought Mitigation Centre NPDM National Policy on Drought Management PDA Provincial Departments of Agriculture REWU Regional Early Warning Unit RMS Results Management System SADC Southern Africa Development Community SLA Sustainable Livelihood Approach SSA Sub-Saharan Africa UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction ZIMASSET Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation ZimVac Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee vi List of Tables Table 1: Summary of Demographic profile of local respondents’ 94 Table 2: Age of local respondents 96 Table 3: Gender of local participants (household respondents) 98 Table 4: Education of respondents (household respondents) 99 Table 5: Employment Status of respondents 100 Table 6: Key informants 101 vii List of Figures Figure 2.1: Linkages between types of drought..................................... 17 Figure 2.2: Zimbabwe severity of food insecure by district..................... 41 Figure 2.3: Ten Step Drought Planning Process.................................... 48 Figure 2.4: Drought Task Force Organizational Structure...................... 52 Figure 2.5: Top 10 Natural disasters in Zimbabwe................................. 67 Figure 3.1: A Map showing Zimbabwe Districts...................................... 86 Figure 3.2: A Map showing study area and adjacent districts................. 87 Figure 3.3: A Map showing agro-ecological zones of Zimbabwe........... 88 viii Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................... i Declaration ................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ iii Dedications .............................................................................................................. iv List of acronyms ...................................................................................................... v List of Tables .......................................................................................................... vii List of Figures ....................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Research Objectives ............................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................................ 11 1.5 Organization of the Study ....................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................... 13 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................... 13 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Conceptual framework ............................................................................................................ 13 2.3 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) ........................................................................... 19 2.3.2 Livelihood assets .................................................................................................................. 22 2.3.3 Applicability of the five capitals to drought management ............................................... 23 2.3.3.1 Human Capital ................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.3.2 Social Capital ....................................................................................................................