Evaluating the effects of the 2018/2019 drought in Zimbabwe : a case study of Gwakwe Village, Ward 6 in Gwanda District

Abstract

Climate change is increasing the frequency, duration and severity of droughts. Drought affects the poor and vulnerable in many communities, particularly women and children. A huge number of people in developing countries and countries facing wars are vulnerable to the effects of droughts. More than two-thirds of food in developing countries is produced by smallholder farmers who depend on rainfed agriculture. Many people have lost their livelihoods because of drought. Millions of people in Zimbabwe are food insecure because of droughts. Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe grow maize as a staple food, and it is very sensitive to droughts. This has increased people’s vulnerability to drought. This study identified the source of livelihoods for the people of Ward 6 in the Gwanda District in Zimbabwe. The area is prone to droughts because it receives poor and erratic rainfall. The study identified the effects of the 2018–2019 drought in Zimbabwe. The effects of the drought included poor crop yields, death of livestock, lack of water, hunger, school dropouts, and increases in prices of basic commodities and agriculture inputs, soil degradation, siltation of dams and rivers, and migration. These effects forced households to use different coping mechanisms. Some of the coping mechanisms used by households are informal trade, gold panning, reduction of meal amounts and meal times, sacrificing other projects, food aid from the government and NGOs, remittances from children and relatives abroad, and selling of livestock and assets. A qualitative method was used to collect data for this study. Data was collected from rural households who depend on rainfed agriculture as a source of livelihood. Female and male-headed households were part of the study. Questionnaires, interviews and focus groups were used to collect data from households, village heads, councillors, government officials and nongovernmental officials. The study used a narrative analysis to analyse the data collected. The study found out that many households could not cope by themselves during drought. The food aid they received from the government and NGOs was not enough to feed families. Water sources near households dried-up and households had to travel long distance to iv access water. The study recommends that the government develops a drought policy, and create awareness and mitigation strategies. The study also recommends diversification to drought tolerant crops and livestock varieties as a coping strategy. Irrigation schemes can bring stability to food insecure households and sustainable livelihoods. The study identified the construction and rehabilitation of dams as a solution to the problem of water scarcity.