SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS ACTIVITIES IN MADZIWA AREA OF ZIMBABWE

Author's Name: Edith Karimanzira
Subject Area: Social Science and Humanities
Subject Other
Section Research Paper

Keyword:

Sustainable livelihoods, sustainable livelihoods activities


Abstract

Different parts of a country are characterised by varied sustainable livelihoods activities (SLAs) that obtain there. These SLAs are pursued by people in search of means of survival. This was a qualitative ethnographic study which was informed by phenomenological research philosophy. One hundred and ten (110) participants namely, 30 parents, 30 primary and 30 secondary school pupils and 10 primary and 10 secondary school pupils were selected using quota sampling. The data generation methods were in-depth face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. The key findings regarding the nature of SLAs undertaken in Madziwa area were based on farming, weaving and pottery. Through farming, people undertook market gardening, poultry rearing, pastoralism, irrigation farming, mushroom farming, and rabbit rearing. The researcher revealed that SLAs that people undertook together with their children were seasonal and diverse. Since most of the SLAs that obtained in Madziwa area revolved around farming, it can be concluded that they were seasonal. Therefore, people were more actively engaged in SLAs in summer than during dry season. The implication for this situation was the possibility of worsening poverty and a likelihood of raising the magnitude of violating children’s rights when adults engage children in SLAs at home and in other people’s areas as deliberate drive to attempt to conquer poverty. The people in Madziwa area need to diversify their SLAs instead of delimiting themselves to most agricultural activities. This would help boosting their chances to improve their quality of life, as well as that of working life, at the same time minding about how they could involve children in SLAs without infringing their rights. More similar studies ought to be conducted countrywide in order to determine the nature of SLAs that obtain in Zimbabwe’s different areas for comparability’s sake.

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