Oxfam's work in Zimbabwe in depth

Oxfam started working in Zimbabwe shortly after the country’s independence in 1980. Over the years our work has moved from reconstruction and development to helping poor people to earn a decent living and to have enough food all year round. We also talk to and lobby relevant institutions on these issues, and support local organisations working with poor communities.

Hyper-inflation, the impact of HIV and AIDS, and the decline in recent years of commercial farm production, have all led to a widespread lack of food and other essential items across Zimbabwe. Oxfam is responding to the current crisis by addressing food security and providing water and sanitation for the poorest Zimbabweans.

At the end of March Oxfam completed a three-month food aid programme, which we ran in conjunction with the World Food Programme in three drought-affected districts of Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Chirumanzu. With the support of OFDA (The Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance) we distributed essential public heath items such as soap and jerry cans along with food packages.

The harvest from the current season has been disappointing and it is predicted that hundreds of thousands will continue to struggle for food this year. Oxfam will continue to respond to food insecurity by supporting the cultivation of low-input gardens and training and supporting farmers in cultivating drought resistant crops and conservation farming techniques which will help them to maximise their yields.

Oxfam currently has operations in five districts (Gutu, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Zvishavane and Chirumanzu) and has offices in Harare, Gweru, Chirmanzu, and Zvishavane.

Context

A number of inter-related factors have led to a large proportion of the population having a very precarious existence, with livelihoods threatened constantly.

The declining economic situation in Zimbabwe, characterised by skyrocketing inflation (100,000+ per cent) has rendered most basic hygiene items beyond the reach of most poor people, whose income sources have disappeared in the economic crisis.  Households facing food insecurity naturally prioritise food purchases over essential hygiene items, health care and other basic services. In many areas, these hygiene items can no longer be found on shelves. 

The economic decline, coupled to the reduced availability of water resources, has also led to increased risk of water and sanitation related disease transmission, as water points dry up, municipal water supply schemes shut down, wastewater systems block, and general maintenance work is abandoned.  Both rural and urban populations are forced to find alternate water sources, many of which are unprotected such as rivers and scoop holes. 
 
Though many of the water, sanitation and hygiene related issues in Zimbabwe are chronic ones, which require long-term rehabilitation, this year’s accelerating economic decline, coupled with food insecurity and declining safe water resources, requires an immediate public health humanitarian response.  Oxfam will provide basic hygiene items and carry out hygiene promotion work in the course of our food aid distribution.

Overview of current programme

In addition to our humanitarian work, Oxfam continues to work with partners to maintain our long-term development programmes, which aim to assist Zimbabweans to improve their livelihoods, and support those living with HIV and AIDS. This includes providing ‘safety nets’ for the most vulnerable households in the form of seed vouchers and supporting home based carers. Other activities include:

• Seed fairs to increase opportunities for farmers to diversify the crops and seeds they grow. The seed fairs promote local trade, support the local economy, and ensure the use of local seed varieties.
• ‘Seed-multiplication sites’ to reduce the need for seed distribution of seed or vouchers as the programme progresses.
• Community gardens with Oxfam supplying hoes, shovels, watering-cans, and seedlings for fencing.
• Micro-irrigation schemes that help to improve productivity at multiplication sites and community gardens.
• Vouchers for small livestock and veterinary support. The vouchers are exchanged for livestock at fairs facilitated by Oxfam and partners. Livestock with high-breeding rates are most common, including chickens, ducks, guinea-fowl, turkeys, and rabbits.
• Everyone involved in the demonstration projects, multiplication sites, community gardens and dry-land farms take part in ‘capacity-building’ activities, and business-skills training is provided on such things as how to prepare “business plans” that aim to maximise production.
• Conservation-farming training promotes soil and water conservation, soil-fertility management, and increasing farm-productivity per unit area while limiting the labour needed for weed control.

Market access analysis and information provision is undertaken with partners and farmers’ groups in order to identify potential market links and opportunities.

Through partners, Oxfam also seeks to improve and protect public health by supporting the construction of Ecosan latrines at households, schools, and clinics. These latrines are environmentally-friendly and also produce manure for spreading on crops and vegetable gardens. Sanitary towels and soap are provided as part of our social-protection component, helping the poorest part of the population, including HIV and AIDS-affected women and their families, to meet their essential health requirements. Health education work increases awareness and encourages good hygiene practices.

Central to Oxfam’s approach is the capacity-building of our staff, local partner NGOs, government district/ward staff, and community structures such as Village Development Committees and farmers’ groups, through the provision of financial, material, and technical support.

Local partners  

Lead Trust

Lead Trust is a local Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Harare. It was established in 2004 and operates throughout Zimbabwe. Lead Trust is involved in the fields of enterprise development, business linkages, development finance, agri-business, rural development and HIV and AIDS. Oxfam is working with Lead Trust in Bulawayo on the Joint Initiative Programme.

Zimpro

ZIMPRO is a local NGO based in Harare, established in 1980. Its current programmes are on sustainable rural livelihoods and emergency support and recovery. ZIMPRO is working with Oxfam in Harare on the Joint Initiative programme.

Batanai

Batanai HIV and AIDS Support Group is a local NGO based in Masvingo. It was registered in 1996. It offers various AIDS programmes in three districts of Masvingo province, namely Gutu, Masvingo and Chivi. Programmes include Counselling and Psychosocial Support, HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care, People Living with HIV and AIDS Rights Advocacy, HIV and AIDS Awareness and Communication for Behaviour Change and Youth Formation for Behaviour Change. Batanai is currently working with Oxfam on home based care programme

St Theresa

St Theresa’s Hospital is a Faith Based Mission Centre situated in Chirumanzu district in the Midlands province. It was established in 1997. Its current programmes are home based care, voluntary counselling and testing, and orphans and vulnerable children. It is working with Oxfam on a home-based care programme.

Rural Unity Development Organisation (RUDO)

RUDO is a local NGO based in Masvingo, operational since 1993. RUDO works towards a healthy, food-secure and economically-empowered rural community. The focus of the RUDO programme in Masvingo province is to meet the food security needs of households, and to secure and sustain livelihoods in the immediate to longer-term. Oxfam works with RUDO in Gutu and Masvingo districts.

Last updated: April 2008