“The broad structural and economic results of Zimbabwe’s land and agrarian reform programme and its impact on rural development forced commercial farm workers to revert to already overcrowded rural areas,” PRFT said.
Mineral-rich
The report analysis was carried out in April this year in the diamond rich Zimunya, Marange and Odzi areas of Manicaland.
“The area is endowed with minerals and natural resources like the famous Chiadzwa diamonds, but its inhabitants are far from living decent lives,” noted the report.
PRFT said when the land reform came people expected it to ease overcrowding in rural areas, reduce poverty and resettle communal dwellers.
“The discovery of diamonds in the Marange fields has not benefited Mutare rural. Only a few locals managed to benefit from the gems rush before the area was government-controlled. Much of the mining profits go to private miners and the national coffers as tax revenue,” said PRFT.
PRFT is a civil society organisation whose mission it is to conduct poverty related research and advocate for and facilitate national dialogue on sustainable poverty reduction and human development issues in Zimbabwe.
Similar studies have been conducted in urban areas like Mutare, Harare and Bulawayo in 2012.
HIV and AIDS
“Most rural farmers have poor marketing of their little produce as they often lack access to information and bargaining power. Middle men get farm produce from communal farmers for a pittance and then resell it at a greater profit in urban areas,” noted PRFT.
PRFT added that the HIV and AIDS pandemic had exacerbated rural poverty by decimating human resources.
“The pandemic has increased the number of orphans and vulnerable children, school absenteeism for both teachers and children as some are ill and others have to assume caring roles for sick parents,” PRFT said.
In Zimunya rural, especially in Dora area, the study noted that the majority of the rural dwellers had resorted to deforestation to sell as firewood.
“Their lives have become running battles with the Environmental Management Agency and the Zimbabwe Republic Police as they try to avoid arrest for environmental damage,” reads part of the report.
Sand for sale
Another group in Zimunya community have resorted to selling river and pit sand to urban dwellers. “These people wake up as early as 2am to do their business before the law enforcement agencies start patrolling the area,” said PRFT.
The study discovered that rural unemployment is gendered and also affects the youth more than other age groups.
“An interview with one of the sex workers now frequenting Odzi clinic for anti-retroviral drugs revealed that women are forced into prostitution in the area as they seek to make money from either tourists or prospective diamond mine investors,” reads the report.
PRFT said that in order to reduce rural poverty, it was necessary to develop alternatives to current sources of livelihood, empowerment of women and youth.
“Free health care, education for all, rural development and the integration of small farmers into the market structure would improve the living standards of the poor,” said PRFT.
Post published in: News