Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security Oct. 2014 | Page 84

13

IN NUMBERS
ZIMBABWE
POPULATION
IN SEVERE POVERTY

12.2%

Background
Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980 after
years of wars and struggles, the impact of which is still felt
today. During the pre-independence war and episodes of
violence in the post-independence era, the country experienced
displacement of people, loss of life, and conflict among
communities, leading to a traumatised society.1 In the postindependence era, Zimbabwean citizens have been repeatedly
(WORLD by violent conflict and political polarisation. Though
divided BANK 2014A)
outright conflict officially ended with a unity agreement
between the main political parties in 1987, lingering hostilities
remain to this day.
=10.000.000

GRAPHIC
n (2013)
After a decade of economic shocks and decline,
marked by peak inflation at 231 million percent
in July 2008, the introduction of a multi-currency
regime in 2009 began to stabilise the economic
environment. The GDP growth rate grew as high
as 11.4 percent and 10.6 percent in 2010 and 2012
respectively, though it dropped to 3.4 percent
in 2013.2 As a result of this macro-economic
instability, citizens felt an overall deterioration in
their quality of life, with 62.6 percent of households
remaining below the poverty line, with the highest
concentration of poverty in rural areas.3 The state
of the economy has caused a sharp decline of
standards in other fields such as education, social
and health care.
Environmental factors including climate change
and deforestation have affected food security and

As a result of
this macro-economic
instability, citizens
felt an overall
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
INDEX deterioration in
2013
their quality of life.
84 stories of Human Security | Zimbabwe

156

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

IN 2011

(UNDP 2014)

caused acute malnutrition in the country. Drought
has struck communities dependent on rain-fed
agriculture, and 63 percent of people use firewood
as fuel for cooking.4 Millions of hectares of land
have been destroyed due to serious veld fires,
leading to plant and animal species decline.5

A communication
and knowledge
gap exists between
national policymakers
and long-standing
community practices.

Long-lasting
grievances and
the poverty prevalent
in communities
threaten social
cohesion and peace
at the local level.

60,139
(UNHCR 2014)

SECONDARY SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
BOYS

GIRLS

47.7% M ALE
48.6% F EMALE
IN 2008-2012
(UNICEF 2013)

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

As the country moves towards a national healing
and reconciliation process, the emphasis has
been on collaborative efforts not only among the
government, ONHRI and civil society organisations,
but also with traditional leadership. It is widely
acknowledged that the complexity of Zimbabwean
society and politics must be understood within the
contexts of historical struggles, and this requires
finding a balance between modern and traditional
conflict resolution and mediation mechanisms at
community levels. However, a communication
and knowledge gap exists between national
policymakers and long-standing community
practices, posing challenges in implementing
a nationally-agreed peace and reconciliation
programme that is truly representative of all
Zimbabweans.

Moreover, in 2005 nearly 700,000 people
lost their homes as a result of a government
programme code named Murambatsvina (‘remove
the dirt’), to rationalise the construction of urban
dwellings and to remove shacks which had been
illegally constructed. The housing crisis continues
today, as there is a severe lack of affordable shelter.
This political and socio-economic background
provides insight into some root causes of human
insecurities in Zimbabwe. Long-lasting grievances
and the poverty prevalent in communities
threaten social cohesion and peace at the local
level. The minimal research in this field shows
that conflicts in communities are rooted in deep
structural and policy issues that have not been
addressed.

7%
IN 2012
(WORLD BANK 2014D)

As part of the Global Political Agreement
(GPA) in 2009, the Government of Zimbabwe
recognised the need for healing and reconciliation,
and established the Organ for National Healing
Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI). More
recently, the constitution of Zimbabwe, adopted
in 2013, makes provision for the establishment of
a National Peace and Reconciliation Commission
(NPRC), acknowledging the importance of national
healing and reconciliation in fostering peace,wellbeing and development in the country.6

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