This article examines the implementation of fish farming as an innovative and economic strategy for promoting food security and dietary diversities among vulnerable households in drought risk areas of Zimbabwe. The declining climatic conditions and lack of economic opportunities in Mwenezi district of Zimbabwe attracted the attention of three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement fish farming as an innovative mechanism to stimulate food security and generate employment in the district. The article used a qualitative research approach that includes semi-structured interviews and secondary data. The purposive sampling technique was adopted to interview participants in Mwenezi district who were involved in fish farming to assess and explore the experiences and benefits they derive from such development projects. Results for the article revealed that fish farming was well embraced by local communities as it led to improvements in food security, household income and employment regeneration. The local government including traditional leadership (Chiefs and Headmen’s) supported the NGO activities as they benefited local communities. The article concludes that although fish farming was instrumental in regenerating employment, some participants still fail to participate because of laziness and desire to maintain dependency syndrome. The article recommends the NGOs to launch awareness campaigns in rural communities and increase networking with the donor community which is fundamental in attracting sustainable funding. The government can also promote fish farming in vulnerable rural communities by providing funding and capacity building programmes.
Despite an increase in studies focusing on street children in Zimbabwe, there is limited research on street children in the informal sector. In this article, I explore the informal activities of street children in their quest to survive on the streets of the Harare Metropolitan Municipality in Zimbabwe. The survey data were derived from 202 street children aged between 6 and 18 years who were purposively selected in the Harare Metropolitan Province. A descriptive research design and a questionnaire were used to collect quantitative data. The article draws from the resilience theory that informs various survival strategies adopted by street children in response to stresses and shocks triggered by the harsh economic environment in Zimbabwe. The quantitative data gathered were analysed using descriptive analysis and presented in the form of pie charts, bar graphs and tables. The findings revealed that street children are embarking on livelihood activities such as street vending, car washing, street parking, waste recycling, luggage carrying and various part-time jobs. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the by-laws of the City of Harare restrict informal activities on the street, leading to livelihood strategies such as bribery of the municipal authorities, nocturnal trading and whistling to alert others that they are being raided. Drawing on the findings of the study, it was concluded that, contrary to dominant theoretical and empirical works that conceptualise street children as helpless, street children have the agency to engage actively in creative survival strategies.
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