Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security Oct. 2014 | Page 88

“ ome of the worst
S
political violence
has taken place in
this district.”

ZIMBABWE

13 (WORLD BANK

GRAPHIC
n (2013)

The interviews reflected on the issues caused by
the importation of labour. There are a number of
companies that operate in Bulawayo and employ
people from the outside. This is a security concern
to most residents: “The main question is why the
government allows the transfer of human capital
across provinces rather than focusing on reducing
the unemployment rate at every province.” The
2014A)of a guest house in Nkayi highlights the
manager
increased rate of unemployment caused by foreign
companies’ ownership of the timber industry.
According to her, they do not employ locals but
=10.000.000
they bring their own people, and this negatively
affects the economy in the area. She notes that
there are a number of backyard industries such
as carpentry, welding, and hairdressing, that, if
strengthened, could provide people with an income.
A respondent in Silobela added that, “there is
capacity for income-generating projects, but there is
no money for start-up capital. Women are running
money-lending schemes but they generate very little
from them.”
A respondent in Bulawayo points out that: “In order
to earn a living, many people resort to various ways,
such as trading in second-hand clothes imported
from Mozambique. Some resort to illegal border
jumping in search of jobs in neighbouring countries
with better economies, such as Botswana and South
Africa. Some have died in the process swimming
across crocodile infested rivers and playing hide and
seek with security forces guarding the borders.” He
further points out that because of the economic
hardships, corruption is rampant in the country and,
“What seems to be lacking is the political will to
face it head on.”

“ am scared to think
I
about the future
of my children.”
Economy
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT the effects
Zimbabwe’s financial troubles and
INDEX of the economic challenges is a frequently citedfrom
2013
source of insecurity. The following testimonial

156

a respondent in Bulawayo illustrates this: “I am
scared to think about the future of my children. I

88 stories of Human Security | Zimbabwe

have nothing to bequeath to them as I lost every
penny that I had saved in the crisis of 2007 to
2008. No matter how much education I might give
them, chances of their being employed are very
slim with such a high unemployment rate. In 2007
to 2008 the challenge was the hyper-inflation that
led to the collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar, but
today the challenge comes from deflation. Unlike
last time, goods are available on the market but
there is very little money in circulation. Those who
have money seem to be afraid of keeping it in
the bank for fear of a repeat of the 2007 to 2008
experience, where their funds were confiscated
by government and up to today have not been
returned. This has left many people hurting and
angry. They would rather keep their monies hidden
elsewhere. The vast majority of people are living
from hand to mouth and therefore fear for their
security and that of their children.
I live in fear.”

Reflecting on community tensions

A number of interviewees in the Nkayi district
discussed the issues of tribal or political tensions,
which affected the sense of security and the
community relations.
“My area is predominantly populated by the
Ndebele people. It is one of the areas that was
perceived as sustaining the ZIPRAd dissidents
shortly after the attainment of independence
and mostly Shona-speaking soldiers were sent to
flush these out. But I feel that the methods used
created a great deal of animosity on the part of
the Ndebele against the Shona people. After the
Unity Accord, many of those who were believed to
have been involved in committing atrocities then
settled in Silobela. The tension between the two
communities has been very intense and they hardly
ever mix in social gatherings.”

Public services
A number of issues raised relate to the provision
of public services such as housing, health and
social welfare. On housing, the authorities’ recent
attempt to enforce building standards and remove
unauthorised housing, whether for legitimate
reasons or not, has resulted in a housing crisis. A
respondent in Nkayi postulates that: “The local
authority intends to destroy homesteads that are
surrounding the growth point. It has been said
it’s for the purposes of expansion. But this will
create a lot of other issues such as homelessness
and destruction of people’s livelihoods. This is
exacerbated by resource exploitation by foreign
companies.”

“Some youths in Makhaba Ward perpetrated
violence due to political differences. They burnt
houses that belonged to their political opponents
and caused major disturbances in the Ward and
it left scars on families and community members.
This explains the slow pace of development and
the fear of participating in any initiative that comes
from outside the Ward. The fear arises from the
perception that those who come from outside the
Ward can only be enemies trying to influence locals
to rise against government so as to once again get
them into trouble.”
”General peace has always been a challenge
in Nkayi. You will know that some of the worst
political violence has taken place in this district.
That concern will remain with us for a long time
though things have been stabilising of late. There
is also a concern on matters of domestic violence
and other instances of violence on the social
front. If you read the papers, Nkayi is known for
some of these violent crimes like physical fighting,
stabbing, axing and abuse of women.“

A female traditional leader in the Nkayi District
highlights that “education is a serious matter in
our area as there is very little infrastructure. Many
times we have had to rely on well-wishers and local
businesspeople to build facilities. It is only recently
that the first crèche was built in our area, and it had
to be donated by a local politician. The shortage
of resources and infrastructure within the area has
caused the community to be worried that it is not
a good area for our children to learn, due to the
absence of learning facilities, and that this will in
turn lessen their life chances.”
In Mashonaland East, another respondent says:
“The major human security issue where I reside is
shelter and housing. Many people were allocated

d The Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) was the
armed wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU).

Menu

houses and stands, some in the wetlands and
others in areas that were not fully serviced.
The problem is that now the local authority is
threatening to demolish the houses as they are
either on unsuitable or unauthorised land or
irregularly built. These are ordinary people who
invested their life savings in building homes but
are now faced with the threat of homelessness.
Some have used their entire life investments
to build beautiful and comfortable houses on
those stands. They are now threatened by the
local authorities with demolition, resulting in
homelessness and poverty.”
Related to this housing challenge is the issue of
political abuse. “I feel that this housing crisis is
triggered by some politicians who, at election times,
go out of their way to promise things that they are
not really in control of. In the heat of the political
moment, they by-pass procedure and we are the
ones who bear the brunt at the end of the day. It
is really distressing for people to be stressed about
shelter and where the next meal will come from
and it is shared across Chitungwiza.”

“ hese are ordinary
T
people who invested
their life savings in
building homes but are
now faced with the
threat of homelessness.”
On health care, the secretary to the village head
and local farmers’ organisation in another Nkayi
ward is concerned for his area: “There is only one
hospital in the ward and it is located at the very
end. We wish there were clinics to support the
hospital that are located centrally so that everyone
can access them.” The lack of drinking water
compounds health insecurities: “There is only
one water pump in the area. This has caused the
festering of diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera,
which are minor and preventable.” His community
is experiencing many water-borne diseases.
89