Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Urban agriculture – Zimbabwe – Harare'

This thesis seeks to understand and analyze the livelihood strategies of urban women traders at Magaba in Harare (Zimbabwe) in the context of the contemporary economic and political crisis. The crisis emerged in the 1990s with the introduction of a structural adjustment programme and deepened further with the fast track land reform programme initiated by the Zimbabwean government in the year 2000. The crisis has involved a down-sizing of the Zimbabwean economy and a massive rise in the rate of unemployment in the formal economy. Consequently urban life became increasingly unbearable for poor blacks and informal economic activities blossomed and started to make a significant contribution to household income and livelihoods. The role of women in the informal economy was particularly pronounced. Theoretically, the thesis is underpinned by the sustainable livelihoods framework. In examining the vulnerability context of the Magaba women traders and the institutional interventions which complicate the lives and livelihoods of these traders, I identify and unpack their diverse livelihood activities and strategies and the resources (or assets) they deploy in constructing urban livelihoods. Though their livelihood portfolios complement any earnings from formal employment by household members and though they contribute to their household’s sustenance, there are a number of daily challenges which they face in their trading activities and which they seek to counteract through a range of often ingenious coping mechanisms. The thesis is important for a number of reasons. It fills an important empirical gap in the study of Magaba market specifically, it brings to the fore the gendered character of the informal trading activities in urban Zimbabwe, and it deploys the livelihoods framework in a manner which is sensitive to both structure and agency.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of co-operative societies on poverty alleviation among the urban poor in Zimbabwe with particular reference to consumer co-operative societies in areas of agriculture, housing and micro- finance. The co-operative sector plays an important role in poverty alleviation since many unemployed people have turned to co-operative activities as a way of earning a lawful and decent living during a period in which Zimbabwe generally suffered immense impoverishment in the midst of the national economic meltdown that was characterised by hyper-inflation, de-industrialisation and mass unemployment. The period of study was as from January 2008 to August 2010. This period is significant in that many co-operative societies were formed with the following broad objectives: (a) economic power and through this power; (b) control of socio-economic institution, to eliminate exploitation of man by man to make the people of Zimbabwe self reliant; (c) skills management, goods and services and establish in themselves a sense of confidence, initiative and high development aspirations; (d) to provide an opportunity to develop the community; and a (e) collective way of living that provides a sound base for socialism and national solidarity ix In this study, two hundred and seventy four respondents were used as research subjects. This consisted of one hundred and sixty respondents from housing, twenty four from micro- finance, and eighty eight from agricultural co-operative societies which covered dairy, poultry and fishing co-operative societies. This also included the Registrar of Co-operatives and the Harare City Council Co-operative officer. The research instruments that were used for the purpose of this research study were questionnaires, field visits, interviews and observations. Use was also made of secondary data that was obtained from the offices of Registrar of Co-operatives and the Town clerk of the Harare City Council as well as from the various co-operative societies that constitute the research study’s sample. The key factors that account for the failure of co-operative societies included the lack of adequate funding, lack of relevant knowledge and experience about co-operative activities, conflict among co-operative society members, failure to follow co-operative principles, mixing politics with co-operative activities and lack of education and training. The study also found out that the key to the success of any co-operative venture includes some of the following factors: Proper application of co-operative principles, the provision of co-operative education to both the membership and management of co-operative societies and proper keeping of institutional records. Most important of which include membership, financial and asset registers. x The study recommends that the government should give adequate administrative and financial support to co-operative societies since they have a potential of alleviating poverty if properly managed. It is also further recommended that research be done in order to enhance the strategic management of co-operative societies since empirical evidence tends to suggest that they are a viable tool for broad –based participatory and democratic sustainable livelihoods development. The study also recommended further studies to be carried out on the applicability of cooperative principles in all environments since some co-operative societies that have followed these principles especially in the developed countries have proved to be suitable instruments for poverty alleviation.

The issue of human settlements has recently gained much momentum particularly in cities across the world due to rapid rates of urbanization. The housing crisis is manifesting mostly in the cities of the developing countries; the urban poor population is left with no option, they are continuously living in substandard and unsustainable housing conditions due to the desperate housing need. There is a growing trend of migration into urban centers in the developing countries as well as natural population increase in the cities. The inevitable development is the rapid growth of urbanization. The theories on urbanization suggest that the responsible government and local council authorities must be prepared to address socio-economic issues such as the provision of formal housing, infrastructure development and employment creation. The governments in developing countries are struggling to balance economic development and the provision of social services. As a result, the human settlement sector is suffering lack of prioritization when it comes to budget and resource allocation. The resultant factors are the overcrowding of the urban population, high housing backlogs and dilapidation of infrastructure visible mostly in the major cities of the developing countries.

The population of Glen View, a high density residential area in Harare, Zimbabwe is increasing. The effects on area living conditions are deleterious. The situation is expected to deteriorate further due to projected population increases: This creative project presents strategic planning, through Recommendations and Guidelines, for the high density residential area of Glen View. This project involves recommending guidelines for innovative urban planning strategies to address the significant living difficulties existing in Glen View. The sources used were secondary and related published material along with the knowledge gained through my personal experience in the high density residential areas in Harare, Zimbabwe during the summer of 1990. It is intended that this project can serve as an example of how innovative planning can work to create a better quality of life for people living in high density residential areas in developing countries.
Department of Urban Planning

The aim of the study was to investigate the role played by urban agriculture (UA) in alleviating poverty in poor and low income households of Harare. It further examined the factors that confront the practice. The study was conducted after a realisation that despite not receiving much support from city by- laws, poor and low income households of Harare continue to engage in agricultural activities yearly. The desk research method was used to acquire information from a vast of secondary data sources. The secondary sources which were qualitative in nature provided the research with broad literature on urban agriculture and poverty in Harare, Zimbabwe and the world at large. However, a case study research design was employed whereby an in-depth analysis of the topic focused on poor and low income farmers of Harare Province. Literature reviewed and analysed was organised into themes and categories that portrayed urban agriculture as a crucial tool for alleviating poverty. It was also viewed as a tool that can be used as a sustainable livelihood. Despite other factors affecting the performance of urban farmers, lack of clear policies and city by- laws that guide agriculture in the study area proved to be a huge hindrance. Therefore, to achieve sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty, the research suggested that instead of different pieces of city by- laws governing the practice in Harare and Zimbabwe there is need for one clear urban agriculture policy. It was concluded that the government and city authorities remain the key to unlocking UA‟s full potential by providing formal support to the practice by organising formulation of an inclusive urban agriculture policy that will be understood by every citizen.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-222).
Within the context of demographic growth, rapid urbanization and rising urban poverty which characterizes much of Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century, this thesis examines the urban poor's vulnerability to food insecurity and analyses the strategies that households adopt to enhance their resilience in this challenging environment. Harare is the study site, providing an acute example of a city (and country) 'in crisis', and a context in which formal food markets have failed to meet the needs of the urban poor, within a generalized collapse of the economy. The central question, then, is how do the urban poor meet their food needs under such conditions of extreme material deprivation?

The level of supply of public transport increases proportionately with population size. However, increases in population growth and urbanization have led to several transport problems, including meeting the supply of transport services. The rationale behind the supply model as used in the study is generally found in economic theory, where vehicle operators/owners choose among alternative opportunities before investing in urban transport service industry. Despite the importance of the transport business sector to the Zimbabwean economy, the continued undersupply in the sector is alarming. The main objective of the study is to identify the factors affecting the supply of urban transport in Harare, Zimbabwe. The research seeks to find the reasons of the high mismatch of demand and supply in the urban public transport sector. These situations are related to finance, demand forecasting, management, high operational overheads, unviable fares, marketing, capitalization at start up and business planning. It also established that many entrepreneurs have high operational overheads as a result of inefficiency due to vehicle old age and high statutory safety requirements on vehicle fitness, which is forcing many large investors to opt to sell their passenger vehicles and venture into haulage trucks instead. By the end of the research we should be able to list the factors affecting investment in this sector in their order of importance such that coming up with solutions to those most important factors may just unlock a lot of investment into this sector This research established the notion that under investment in the transport sector are caused by lack of funding and non viable fares even though occupancy is very good. These factors will serve as a basis of modeling the supply situation in the study area. In addition, the study will outline some policy directions, which need to be considered in order to sustain the supply of urban transport services.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Town and Regional Planning in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Political independence for Zimbabwe in 1980 brought about fundamental socio-conomic changes which impacted on urbanisation trends in the country. For instance the removal of colonial influx control laws and regulations which had previously served to curtail ruralurban migration marked the beginning of a new developmental era characterised by rapid urbanisation. Political and economic downturns later experienced in the country in the last decade of the twentieth century and after resulted in massive de-industrialisation, company closures and high unemployment. These changes impacted significantly on the spatial structure of cities which had to firstly adapt to socio-political integration, and had to later focus on the basic challenges of providing shelter and alternative means of employment in a depressed economy. The physical and spatial manifestations of such changes included the rapid growth of informality, the collapse of urban infrastructure and the apparent disregard for the colonially styled urban development management frameworks. This research consequently evaluates the performance of current urban planning frameworks and practices in the face of such changing circumstances. This is against a backdrop of the apparent failure by urban planning to transform in line such development trends. The study explores the theoretical framework of rapid urbanisation, urban planning, and technological innovation in urban development management systems. The main focus of the study is on the transformation of planning practices and frameworks. Geo-spatial technology (GST) is mainly used as a demonstration and methodological tool for analysis and evaluation. The methodology is made up of two contrasting case studies based in the CBD of Harare (Zimbabwe‟s capital city) and Epworth (an informal settlement on the outskirts of Harare). The CBD case study measures the performance of planning frameworks within a formally planned set up whilst the Epworth case study demonstrates the (in)effectiveness of current planning practices to contemporary urban development challenges. The main findings of the research support the need to have mobile planning frameworks and tools that have the capacity to promptly respond to fast changing developmental trends. The other main finding highlights the positive relationship between impartial participation in planning and high level of success in achieving planning objectives.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
This thesis provides a critical and historical analysis of industrial ethnicity in African Harare between the 1890s and 1980. It examines the origins, dynamics and ambiguities of industrial ethnicity in urban colonial Harare (then Salisbury) and its attendant implications for socio-economic wellbeing and inter-group relations. It locates industrial ethnicity within broader questions of inequality and social difference, especially issues like affordability, materiality and power. The thesis pays particular attention to individuals and groups’ differential access to the ‘raw materials’ used in imagining and constructing forms of identification. The thesis is empirically grounded in a specific case study of industrial ethnicity among disparate African groups in urban colonial Zimbabwe, and in the context formed by factors that fomented ethnic enclaves in African Harare’s competitive labour markets during particular historical epochs. Such complex currents remain under-represented in current Zimbabwean historical literature. This is despite the salience and resonance of industrial ethnicity, as well as its multi-layered and ambiguous implications for inter-group relations, and its potential to create differential access to life chances for individuals and groups. The thesis contends that in crisis situations, people tend to identify with their ‘type’ and to use ethnic, kinship and other social ties in their scramble for socio-economic and political resources. This usually involves definitions and re-definitions of ‘selves’ and ‘others’; ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’; contestations and negotiations over identification; and how these varied identities are ‘materialised’. The ways in which migrant workers positioned themselves in the labour market depended on ensuing socio-economic inequalities and the use of social networks, which were indispensable conduits for the transmission of job information and local intelligence. The prevalence of ethnic enclaves and widespread ethnic clusters in colonial Harare’s labour market is explained in terms of a complex synergy of factors, including behavioural, historical, institutional and structural elements. Equally, industrial ethnicity, which had pre-colonial precedents, remained contested, fluid, and ambiguous, and was one among a range of forms of identification available to Salisbury’s African migrant workers. The thesis further situates African ethnicity in its political context by examining its ambivalent interaction with nationalist politics, gender and ‘othering’ work. It contends that African nationalism’s inherent underlying contradictions and tensions, and the subsequent dual categorisation of citizens into ‘patriots’ and ‘sell-outs’ set the stage for hegemonic (and counter-hegemonic) politics, ethnic competition and the politics of marginalisation in postcolonial Zimbabwe.

The main objective of this thesis is to understand and explain the ongoing construction of livelihood activities by urban households in the low-income high-density area of Budiriro, Harare, Zimbabwe in a context characterised by systemic crisis and a general decline of the national economy. The study utilised a mixed methods research approach, which combined both qualitative and quantitative research, including a survey, life histories and focus group discussions. The thesis discusses a diverse range of livelihood activities of Budiriro households, such as formal employment, informal trading and agricultural activities, and the ways in which households seeks to diversify their livelihood portfolio. It does this by way of also examining the contemporary and historical factors influencing the livelihood activities pursued by these households, along with the shocks and disturbances encountered and experienced by households in trying to construct viable livelihoods. The thesis makes useful contributions to the existing literature on livelihoods studies. Firstly, the thesis disaggregates the households by showing the existence of three wealth categories in Budiriro and the varying livelihood strategies of households in different wealth categories. Secondly, the study highlights the significance of intra-household dynamics in Budiriro for livelihoods as well as of inter-household kinship networks, which transcend the urban space and entail multi-spatial livelihoods. Thirdly, the thesis examines livelihoods over time, such that it goes beyond a strictly synchronic examination, therefore providing a diachronic analysis of diverse and complicated livelihood pathways. Finally, the Livelihoods Framework is located within broader macro-sociological theorising including the work of Pierre Bourdieu. In this respect, important insights arise about livelihood choices and practices in the light of ongoing debates within sociology about human agency.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
This thesis examines the interaction between social movements and planning institutions in the delivery of low-income housing in metropolitan Harare. Post-2000, the problem of housing in Zimbabwe has been characterised by the weak technical and financial capacity of local authorities and central government to deliver low-income housing and social movements challenging conventional housing delivery approaches and promoting alternatives. Between 2000 and 2015, the largest share of low-income housing was provided by housing movements. This study employs transformative theory (Friedmann, 2011) to explain how societies, especially marginalised people, organise alternative services pertinent to their lifestyles. The thesis draws on 95 key informant interviews, 14 focus group discussions (with 120 members of housing movements), and enumeration survey data (covering 6,636 households). It uses extensive material from document analysis (council resolutions, council committee reports, departmental annual reports, co-operative audits and reports, and government investigation reports). This study uses purposive sampling in which defined criteria were used to select housing movements. The study suggests that there has been urban transformation in metropolitan Harare. As argued in this thesis, urban transformation is evidenced by changes in the urban fabric (for instance, through new housing and infrastructure services for the predominantly poor population), reconfiguration of power (with the urban poor playing a vital role in urban development) and the adoption by planning institutions of grassroots-centred planning and housing delivery approaches. This transformation seems to be the result of four factors. First, the sudden increase in social movements involved in the ‘formal and informal’ delivery of low-income housing. Secondly, the drastic decline in the capacity of central and local governments to fulfil their housing delivery mandates. Thirdly, the changes to low-income housing delivery approaches in terms of both planning and housing policy and practice. Lastly, the Fast Track Land Reform Programme has had a wide impact on access to housing in peri-urban areas. The study concludes that urban transformation has primarily been the result of social movements placing pressure on planning authorities which has brought a new urban development order. Interactions between social movements and planning institutions have been characterised by struggles, contestation and alliances, which continue to profoundly shape urban planning and housing in Zimbabwe.
Germany Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-123).
Zimbabwe has been well known, since independence in 1980, to have one of the best health care systems in Sub-Saharan Africa regardless of a low economic growth pattern. The gains in health status that have been reaped in the 1980s and early 1990s have now been reversed due to the combination of the effects of structural adjustments policies, intermittent drought, a decline in the quality of health care services and severe economic decline. The current economc environment places pressure on households, especially the poorest, to meet the rising costs of individual medical care. The study focused on the evaluation of the patterns and determinants of health care utilization, which can aid in understanding the responsiveness of individuals to the current health care system in light of the economc climate. A detailed assessment of health seeking behaviour and health care utilization was performed using a cross-sectional household community survey comprising of 527 households (2302 individuals) that were randomly selected in three high density suburbs in Harare, Zimbabwe. Information pertaining to demographics, socio-economic status, and health status in addtion to the experiences in the use of health care services or health care providers was collected using a questionnaire.

Bibliography: leaves 68-70.
The study attempts to evaluate the impact of the health sector deregulation policy on the choice of health care providers 12 years after its implementation. It gives some insights into the pattern of health care choices in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe with the aim of drawing some conclusions about the urban areas of Zimbabwe. The other objective is to highlight the impact of personal characteristics and factors related to the facility on the choice between public and private health care providers. Some coping mechanisms being used by urban dwellers in dealing with illness are also investigated. Micro data was gathered by administering a questionnaire to randomly selected individuals who experienced some illness or injury during the reference period. For empirical estimation, logistic regression was used. The results of the study show that the urban poor rely heavily on public health care providers, informal forms of care, and they have limited access to private sector facilities. Although the deregulation policy managed to bring in new players in the health sector, the amount of competition was not enough to lower the cost of health care because the cost of drugs and consultation fees continued to soar. The major factors found to influence health care choices are gender, net monthly income, education, occupation, and availability of essential drugs, fees and the cost of drugs. The results of the study show a clear message that deregulation of the health sector did manage to increase the size of the private sector but failed to widen the scope of provider choices especially for the poorer urban residents.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study gives an analysis of urban water services provision in Zimbabwe in general. The case study of Harare Municipality was used to get an in-depth analysis of urban water provision in an urban set-up and assess the possibility of private sector engagement for water provision. The engagement of the private sector through Public- Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the provision of public services has become a common practice in many countries. The overall benefits noted for the use of these partnerships include increased effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. The private sector has been favoured for the provision of services, given the financial and expertise benefits that it brings into public service delivery. Water services delivery in many countries in Africa has been dogged by a plethora of problems that include, water losses, poor revenue collection, lack of cost recovery, inadequate financial investment to expand water infrastructure and overall inability to meet demand resulting from urban expansion. Given these challenges, PPPs provide an option for service delivery. These partnerships have been in the form of leases, management and service contracts, as well as concessions for the provision of public services. Private sector participation (PSP) in service delivery in different forms is rooted in various theoretical ideologies that include New Public Management (NPM), Public Value, New Governance and Network Governance. The reduction of the role of government in the provision of public services; the adoption of private sector management style; the use of networks in service provision and participation of the stakeholders are key principles in these theoretical ideologies. These principles have thus been adopted through public sector reforms for service delivery. Case studies from Senegal, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania are applied in this study, to take note of key lessons on the engagement of the private sector for provision of urban water services, as well as the key determinants of successful partnerships. The institutional and legal framework of reforms undertaken in these countries are analysed as part of the enabling environment for successful partnerships. Data collection for this study was done through key informant interviews, covering water administration issues, water provision challenges and private sector engagement in Harare. The obsolete water infrastructure and inadequate financial levels have affected water provision and coverage in Harare. Unaccounted for water was found to be above 30 percent for the City of Harare, whilst water production levels are much lower than demand. Attempts at engaging the private sector for improving water provision through a concession for the Kunzvi Dam Project have not gone beyond the signing of the contract. What is clear is that there is a lack of a regulatory framework; political willingness, lack of trust, economic uncertainty, lack of financial sustainability and a performance monitoring framework. These are key factors in ensuring a viable public- private arrangement. For private sector involvement to be successful, in the context of this study, the recommendations include the need for a regulatory framework for PPPs in Zimbabwe, establishment of a regulator through policy, political willingness and transparency.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie bied ’n algemene analise van stedelike watervoorsieningdienste in Zimbabwe. Die gevallestudie van die Harare-munisipaliteit word gebruik ten einde ’n in-diepte analise van stedelike watervoorsiening in ’n stedelike omgewing te bekom en om die moontlikheid van privaatsektor-betrokkenheid ten opsigte van watervoorsiening te assesseer. Die betrokkenheid van die privaatsektor deur middel van Openbare-Privaatvennootskappe met die oog op die verskaffing van openbare dienste het in vele lande wêreldwyd algemene gebruik geword. Die algehele voordele vir die gebruik van sulke vennootskappe sluit verhoogde doeltreffendheid en deeglikheid van diensverskaffing in. Die privaatsektor geniet voorkeur vir die voorsiening van dienste gegewe die finansiële en kundigheidsvoordele wat dit aan openbare dienslewering toevoeg. Die lewering van waterdienste in vele lande in Afrika word deur ’n oormaat probleme geteister wat waterverliese, onvoldoende betalings, gebrek aan kosteverhaling , onvoldoende geldelike beleggings om waterinfrastruktuur uit te brei, en die algehele onvermoë om aan die aanvraag weens stedelike uitbreiding te voldoen, insluit. In die lig van die vermelde uitdagings bied Openbare-Privaatvennootskappe ’n opsie vir dienslewering. Dié vennootskappe is in die vorm van huurkontrakte, bestuurs- en dienskontrakte, sowel as konsessies vir die verskaffing van openbare dienste, vergestalt. Deelname deur die privaatsektor aan dienslewering in verskillende vorme is gewortel in verskeie teoretiese ideologieë wat Nuwe Openbare Bestuur, Openbare Waarde, Nuwe Leiding en Netwerkleiding insluit. Die vermindering van die regering se rol in die voorsiening van openbare dienste; die aanvaarding van privaatsektor-bestuurstyl; die gebruik van netwerke ten opsigte van diensverskaffing en die deelname van belanghebbendes, is sleutelbeginsels in hierdie teoretiese ideologieë. Hierdie beginsels is dus deur openbare sektorhervormings met die oog op diensverskaffing aanvaar. Gevallestudies uit Senegal, Kenia, Suid-Afrika en Tanzanië is in hierdie studie toegepas met die oog daarop om sleutellesse rakende die betrokkenheid van die privaatsektor ten opsigte van die voorsiening van stedelike waterdienste ter harte te neem, sowel as die sleuteldeterminante van geslaagde vennootskappe. Die institusionele en wetlike raamwerk van hervormings wat in vermelde lande onderneem is, is geanaliseer as deel van die geskikte omgewing vir geslaagde vennootskappe. Data-insameling vir hierdie studie is gedoen deur sleutel ingeligte onderhoude wat wateradministrasie-aangeleenthede, watervoorsiening-uitdagings en privaatsektor-betrokkenheid in Harare dek. Die afgeleefde waterinfrastruktuur en onvoldoende finansiële stelsels het watervoorsiening en dekking in Harare geraak. Daar is bevind dat die onverantwoordbaarheid ten opsigte van water in die stad Harare bo 30 persent was onderwyl waterleweringsvlakke veel laer is as die aanvraag daarvoor. Pogings om die privaatsektor te betrek by die verbetering van watervoorsiening deur middel van ’n konsessie vir die Kunzvi Dam-projek, het nog nie verder gevorder as die kontrakondertekening nie. Wat duidelik is, is dat daar ’n gebrek aan ’n reguleringsraamwerk bestaan, daar is geen politieke wil nie, daar heers algemene gebrek aan vertroue, ekonomiese onsekerheid en ’n gebrek aan finansiële volhoubaarheid, en daar bestaan nie ’n prestasiemoniteringsraamwerk nie. Hierdie is sleutelfaktore ten einde ’n lewensvatbare openbare-private ooreenkoms te verseker. Om privaatsektor betrokkenheid – in die konteks van hierdie studie – geslaagd te maak, sluit die aanbevelings die volgende in: die behoefte aan ’n reguleringsraamwerk vir Openbare-Privaatvennootskappe in Zimbabwe, die totstandkoming van ’n reguleerder deur middel van beleid, ’n politieke wil en deursigtigheid.

Magister Public Health - MPH
Dual protection is protection against unwanted pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and a means of achieving safer sex and birth control (WHO, 2012). It is one of the essential tools promoted by the WHO for preventing unintended pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections among HIV-positive women to reduce dual risk of unintended pregnancies, re-infections and transmission of HIV in the cases of sero-discordant couples. However, the use of dual method use among HIV-positive women in Zimbabwe is poorly described. Hence to fill in the existing research gap, this study aims to explore the factors influencing dual protection use by HIV- positive women participating in a prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program in an urban setting in Zimbabwe. Methodology: A qualitative exploratory study design with a combination of qualitative research methods including interviews and focus group discussions was conducted. A total of five focus group discussions (FGDs) each consisting of 8-12 participants was conducted with a total of 51 women. Five in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants. All interviews and FGDs were audio recorded using a digital voice recorder. The interviews were conducted in Shona and translated into English. Data analysis was done manually using thematic coding. Codes emerged from the data using an inductive approach. Ethical principles of research and rigour were observed throughout the study. Results: Dual protection use was low among the HIV-positive women. Absolutely non-use of contraceptive was reported by some women. The main methods of contraceptives were the pill, depo provera and condoms. Inconsistent condom use was mentioned among the few women who reported using condoms. Many barriers to contraceptives use among HIV-positive women in Zimbabwe were identified. However there were a few facilitating factors too. Health system factors associated with health care workers (HCWs) related factors and service delivery processes were reported as major barriers to contraceptive use. Women expressed negative attitude towards condom use associating them with unfaithfulness. Facilitators of contraceptive use identified were couples' HIV testing and counselling, women's increase in CD4 count result, fear of vertical transmission and HIV sero-discordance between couples. Conclusion and Recommendations: In conclusion, dual protection use among HIV-positive women in this community was low. Health system factors were the main barriers to contraceptives use whilst health related factors were the main facilitators. HIV-positive women still face challenges in accessing and utilisation of contraceptives. Hence the barriers to contraceptive use needs to be addressed at the same time promoting the facilitators.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS)
Urban food insecurity in Zimbabwe is a serious stumbling block to the attainment of sustainable urban livelihoods. The casual factors of the urban food crisis in the country include widespread poverty, an unstable economic environment, a reduction of viable employment opportunities and climate-related shocks. The cash-based nature of urban livelihoods, coupled with the economic crisis in Zimbabwe has generated a serious challenge for urban households as basic food prices have increased to such an extent that most urban dwellers experience difficulties in purchasing food. In a context of high poverty and unemployment, urban agriculture has emerged as a food security and livelihood diversification strategy for many poor urban households. Whilst there is a growing body of literature focusing on urban agriculture in Zimbabwe, it has largely focused on community and allotment gardens. There has, however, been little empirical investigation of home-based (or backyard) agricultural production. While backyard gardens have always existed, they have grown in response to poor economic conditions and adverse livelihood conditions. The Bulawayo Municipal Council Agriculture Policy has facilitated this expansion, especially the growth of poultry production. This study addresses this gap in the literature by investigating the contribution of home-based agricultural production in promoting household food security and livelihoods in Bulawayo. A mixed methods approach was utilised for the purposes of the study. In the quantitative part of the study, 99 households were randomly sampled whilst 10 purposively sampled interviews with urban farmers, 3 key informant interviews and 1 focus group discussion were employed for the qualitative part of the study. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, which was used as a theoretical framework of the study, helped to unpack the various livelihood diversification strategies and asset portfolios that poor people depend on for their well-being. Contrary to our initial assumption, the results of the study revealed that 71 percent of the households in the study area were food secure. The findings of the study reveal that home-based urban agriculture is an important food security coping strategy in Bulawayo. The high levels of food security in Bulawayo should however, not be solely attributed to the practice of urban agriculture as 75 percent of the respondents bought their food from supermarkets and other shops. Urban agriculture thus plays a complimentary role to household food security in Bulawayo.

Urban agriculture is a common and permanent phenomenon across most African cities. The general trend in urban agriculture is that it is more pronounced among the poor urban households. Poor households often spend more than 60% of their income on food alone. It acts as coping mechanisms to urban poverty. The traditional view of urban agriculture is that it is a temporal activity which has no place in cities. These traditional views emerge from development policies which tried to tailor African countries’ economic development to follow western economic development models. The fact that urban agriculture has been prevalent in African cities before the advent of colonialism shows that instead of viewing it as temporal activity a socio-historical and socio-economic analysis of urban agriculture is necessary to understand the socio-economic mechanisms behind it. The major thrust of this research was to understand the logic behind practising farming in cities. Urban agriculture in this thesis is presented from urban farmers’ perspective. Using data collected and the literature review for this thesis I developed the Urban Livelihoods Coping Model (ULCM). This model acknowledges the fact that the socio-economic conditions and the socio-historical context of Zimbabwe was as a result of the influence of ‘western leaning’ development policies influenced by theoretical framework of modernisation and associated theories. A combination of these theories with cultural factors and the impact of Structural Adjustment Policies resulted in the present situation where urban agriculture plays a critical in the survival of the urban poor as a coping mechanism. The ULCM ascribes the emergence of urban agriculture to necessity, ability and opportunity. Necessity for food emanates from insufficient incomes to purchase food in cities. The ability comes in the form of farming skills transferred from the rural areas to urban areas as households migrate. Opportunity comes in the form of availability of land for cultivation. Increase in poverty in cities will subsequently result in an increase in urban agriculture. It is apparent that without urban agriculture in Glen Norah most of the families will find it difficult to survive. The significance of this study is that it will help in the socio-economic understanding of urban agriculture and how it can be factored into urban planning systems.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Wetlands are fragile ecosystems that deliver a wide range of environmental and ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being. This fragility has seen a number of wetlands succumb to degradations and loss arising from different causes. The positive contribution of wetlands to various ecosystems and the increasing rate of their degradation and loss has been a cause for concern to different stakeholders for a long time. One of the landmark indications of this concern is the constitution of the Ramsar Convention that was held in Iran in 1971 with the objective of addressing concerns regarding to wetland degradation and loss. Among the competing land uses resulting in wetlands loss and degradation could be listed urban agriculture, industrial development and housing. The research sought to assess the extent of wetland degradation with respect to housing developments in Harare, Zimbabwe. The dilemma as to why and how wetlands were being degraded was an issue of concern. The research sought to determine whether abatement or mitigation measures were in place to address the challenges Associated with wetlands loss and degradation. The subsequent growth of developments, their associated activities and possible intervention measures had to be thoroughly assessed. The administration of questionnaires and conducting of interviews was done to solicit data from the respondents. Collected data was analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Scientists. Further to this, Google satellite imagery was used in the mapping of the Belvedere North and Epworth suburbs. Disturbed and undisturbed portions of the wetlands were analyzed by Geographical Information System software. Direct observation of the wetland area was used to examine existing natural features. To determine extent of pollution, water samples were collected in the wetlands and submitted to the laboratory for analysis. Analysis of selected chemical and physical parameters was carried out in the laboratory using selected methods. The research made two important and broad findings. First, both the Belvedere North and Epworth wetlands have been severely degraded by anthropogenic activities with housing developments and urban agriculture as the major contributors of this degradation. The development of residential properties in the wetlands is a result of a high demand for residential space in Harare. Whereas housing developments in Belvedere are formal and planned, developments in Epworth were informal and haphazard. With no formal planning, the Epworth wetlands have been severely impacted by water and sand extraction as well as contamination of underground water by pit-latrines that are common in these informal settlements. Second, the research also found that wetland degradation was closely associated with the lack of clear wetland policies both at national and local levels. The laboratory results showed that the water in Epworth was more polluted than the water in Belvedere. The measure of pollutants in Epworth was higher due to the activities being carried out as compared to Belvedere. Measures of Dissolved Oxygen, Total Dissolved Substances and conductivity increased from October to March in Epworth. Of note is the measure of Dissolved Oxygen that increased between October and March with a mean of 7.9 and 2.5 respectively. Total nitrogen and total phosphate also increased significantly in midstream and downstream sections. In essence, averages of 0.01 in October and 0.04 in March were recorded respectively for total nitrogen. The study concludes that an integrated land use approach has the potential of minimizing wetland loss and degradation. This is possible through the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive policy involving all relevant stakeholders. This will ensure a coherent decision making process. In as much as integrated land use planning and policy formulation are potential approaches to wetland sustainability, the drive to implement policy by policy makers concerning wetlands has to be explored. As ignorance concerning the ecological importance of wetlands exists in some cases, it is critical to consider wetland benefits above other competing developments such as housing and urban agriculture. This can be achieved through merging interrelated disciplines with the idea of integrating wetland information. For instance, deriving engineering solutions could promote development yet preserving wetlands. It is also suggested that environmental impact assessments, as planning tools should be carried out simultaneously with the town planning aspect. If given to proper planning, wetlands have a huge chance of survival.
Environmental Sciences
M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

The study sought to establish the causes, manifestation and impact of classroom aggression on students’ physical and mental health and academic performance in Harare urban secondary schools in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research design methodology was used in this study. The participants in the study were 40 students and 15 teachers from 10 urban schools in Harare Metropolitan Province. In-depth interview schedules and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study used a narrative analysis of interview and focus group texts. The data was analysed using a narrative approach. The findings are presented according to the research questions in narrative form illustrated by quotations. The findings of the study revealed that participants believed that classroom aggressive behaviour was caused by biological, social and economic factors. Biological factors included temperament, hormonal imbalances during the menstrual cycle, secondary changes during puberty such as physical strength and certain medical conditions. Social factors included jealousy between romantic suitors, group dynamics during sports competitions and school transitions, rogue prefects, gangs, peer pressure, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, family factors and religious and cultural beliefs. Aggressive behaviour was manifested in physical, relational, cyber and verbal forms. The study also revealed that aggressive behaviour resulted in negative effects that included students incurring physical injuries, committing suicide, experiencing depressive symptoms, anxiety, performing poorly academically and early school leaving. Recommendations for policy and further research were made.
Psychology of Education
D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Poverty has continued to be an enormous challenge for Africa. Immoral political decisions and tactics have led to the continued suffering of the landless poor in the city of Harare. With no consideration for the dignity of people, the government of Zimbabwe through Operation Murambatsvina (Operation Reject Filth) demolished shelters belonging to the poor in the city a decade and half ago. To this day, most of the victims of this destruction still lack adequate accommodation. The majority urban poor have been excluded from the community and inhabit shanty towns around Harare. Deprived of justice, the poor are alienated from their right to land, nourishment and dignified life. This complete disregard for life and African community values ought to be challenged. Ubuntu moral theory presents necessary guiding principles for human progress that achieves genuine harmony and equality among all people. In light of the experiences of deadly but preventable poverty in Harare, the will-to-live for all requires confirmation. Every human being is endowed with irrevocable intrinsic worth. The elimination of poverty requires practical philosophical resolutions that are driven by sincere respect for human life.
Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
M.A. (Philosophy)

Student Number:0400612E Faculty:Humanities Degree:MA
THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CHALLENGES OF UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE CHILDREN IN URBAN ZIMBABWE Abstract This study explores the psychosocial coping mechanisms of unaccompanied migrant children in Harare, Zimbabwe. While refugees who stay in camps are provided formal assistance through various forms of psychosocial intervention, those who live in cities must typically rely on their own resources and strategies. Using existing academic literature on psychosocial interventions and coping strategies in camps as a comparative referent, this study documents and explains the responses on unaccompanied displaced youth in Harare. Given that this research focuses on the exploration of the informal coping strategies of unaccompanied refugee children a qualitative research is the most preferable method on collecting data. The instruments for collecting the data were semi-structured interviews with key informants and unaccompanied refugee children. Although this project is for academic purposes it is expected that the findings can also be used to for advocacy and programme formulation to meet the psychological needs of unaccompanied refugee children in Zimbabwe as the country undergoes this transitional phase.

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS (HEALTH SOCIOLOGY) UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND May 2015
Over the years, the studying of human sexuality has evolved from being strictly within the biological field, to being an area of interest within the social sciences. Looking at sexuality through a sociological lens in particular allows one to form a platform on which the relationships between culture, opinions about sexuality, sexual activity and good health can be understood. This study set out to explore the impact of gender socialization on sexual norms and behaviours, and the construction of sexuality amongst Shona speaking youth in Harare. Of particular interest was the level of sexual freedom that young women experience in modern times. Seven group discussions were held from a sample population which included urban, Shona speaking individuals between the ages of 19 and 25. The results showed that even though the norms passed to the youth through gender socialization sometimes have a limited effect, gender socialization still influences youth sexuality, thus failing to support the researcher’s initial assumption that sexual norms and behaviours are no longer influenced by Shona gender roles and norms which are passed to the youth through the socialization process.

The burgeoning of subsistence agriculture in the townships of Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe symbolizes a change in the use of urban space in many cities of the global South. The activity of subsistence agriculture, which in both colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe has been highly regarded as a rural activity is now a common sight in most townships of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (RAUF, 2007). Indeed the rise of subsistence agriculture in the residential areas of Bulawayo particularly in the township of Gwabalanda is leading to what I refer to as the ‘ruralization of urban space’, where through practises of subsistence agriculture, elements of rural life have slowly seeped into the everyday life of urbanites (cf. Rogerson, 1993:33; Zeleza, 1999:45). The thesis uses Lefebvre’s (1974) theory of Production of Space to investigate some of the conditions and factors that have influenced the ruralization of urban space in the township of Gwabalanda, as seen in the intensification of a rural-oriented activity of subsistence farm. Using primary data from 17 semi-structured interviews with Gwabalanda residents involved in farming, the thesis intended to interrogate the perceptions and attitudes Gwabalanda residents hold towards the changes in the use of urban space and also examine the possible benefits of urban farming. The investigation of subsistence farming in Gwabalanda led me to identify three complementing and overarching themes or factors that drive urban farming and the ruralization of urban space. The first two themes are the political and economic factors which seem to operate on a macro-level, whereas the other theme of socio-cultural factors functions at an individual or household level. Economic and political factors such unemployment, lack of income, high transport costs of moving food, political alienation and freedom were identified by Gwabalanda residents as important drivers of urban agriculture. On the other hand, socio-cultural aspects which included identity, traditional religion, socialization and changes in migration patterns appeared to be crucial motivators for cultivating urban spaces. The research study also found out that urban households that are engaged in subsistence farming are more food secure and generate extra income from selling some of the produced crops. The income generated is used to pay school fees, pay bills and buy farming inputs for the next planting season. Furthermore some households were sending excess farm produce to their rural homes.