The dynamics of urban water service delivery capacity and the implications for household food security in Gweru, Zimbabwe.

Doctor of Philosophy in Geography. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.Water is a resource on which all human activities, in both rural and urban environments, are anchored. Due to limited social security in developing countries and associated challenges, water is relied upon directly, and heavily, for food security. Several studies focusing on the relationship between water and agriculture have been conducted mostly in rural areas of Zimbabwe. Whilst the water and food relationship was historically associated with rural settings in Zimbabwe, the urban environments are now increasingly identifying with the relationship for survival due to national economic underperformance. Currently, no research has focused on the dynamics of domestic water service delivery system and the implications for household food security in urban areas. Research has been turning ‘a blind eye’ to the effects of reported water shortages and water affairs on household food security in Zimbabwean cities. In view of this, the present study assessed the urban water service delivery system and its implications on household food security in Gweru, the fourth largest city of Zimbabwe. Therefore, the capacity of Gweru municipality to supply water to citizens was assessed. Capacities investigated were the availability of water at source as well as the municipality’s financial, human and infrastructural capacities to supply water to citizens. The findings revealed that the city had sufficient raw water at source to supply the city. Nonetheless, the infrastructural capacity to pump water to the city was limited. Financial incapacity was identified as the major drawback that crippled the system in terms of both adequate human resources and infrastructure development in the city. Results revealed that the municipality was further financially incapacitated by water debt cancellation that was implemented in the year 2013. The shortfall between supply and demand was assessed. Using World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on recommended per capita water per person, results showed a significant differ This situation prompted the researcher to investigate the role that water users were playing in the incapacitated system in order to optimise the limited resources. Adequacy of user participation in the water supply system was assessed using a perception study. Results show that despite all the incapacities, the service provider was not capitalising on working with residents in order to maximise conserving the available resources. Gweru municipality and the city’s residents had poor communication. This perpetuated a tendency of non-compliance with water conservation and demand management strategies as respondents felt disregarded. The municipality was seen as dictatorial, imposing decisions to do with water rationing and revenue collection on residents mutatis mutandis, without adequate consultation and notices. It was in the context of the limited water supply and demand management capacities, the widening supply and demand gap as well as inadequate user participation that household food security was assessed. Results show that municipality’s efforts to continue providing service sometimes led to serious cost recovery and revenue collection that culminated in excessively high bills and serious follow up on payment that, in most cases, led to disconnections. Residents suffered water cuts and reduced food production prospects from their gardens due to plant wilting. The study further revealed that the municipality allowed backyard farming irrigation, but then capitalised on increased bills that were mostly based on estimates. The high monthly bills also crippled the residents’ food buying power, making them more vulnerable to food insecurity. The municipality imposed decisions that make the utility fulfil its mandate of supplying water at the expense of the intended beneficiary, the user. The results show that the measures taken by Gweru city council seriously compromise household food security. The study further assessed the coping strategies that were devised by respondents and civil society groups to counter water shortages and water related household food insecurity. Results reveal that respondents embarked on both legal and illegal strategies for survival. Due to inherent poor communication between the authority and residents, most of the coping strategies devised by respondents, such as self reconnection to water supplies, exhibited deviant behaviours due to lack of options, further increasing the amount of non-revenue water consumed. Twenty two percent of respondents demonstrated their willingness to cooperate with the municipality through payment plans, although 18% of them revealed the ineffectiveness of the option since bills continued to increase. In order to cushion the residents from water shortages and food insecurity, civil society rolled out boreholes and community garden projects in the city. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of capacity building and development in the water service delivery sector. The study highlights the need for stakeholder engagement, in a bid to optimise resource utilisation amid limited capacities. The findings of the study further show the importance of people-centred approaches in resource management in order to achieve sustainability. Lack of an integrated approach in water service delivery in Gweru led to more disgruntled and vulnerable citizenry that perceives hegemony and prejudice. The findings have demonstrated that lack of engagement breeds an environment that counteracts a conservation ethos, as citizens defend their spaces for survival. The research findings can supply a baseline of information for the formulation of city by-laws and national policies on urban water and household food security

Landuse and landcover change assessment in the Upper Runde sub-catchment, Zimbabwe and possible impacts on reservoir sedimentation

This work assesses land cover changes on the Upper Runde sub-catchment, Zimbabwe, and associated effects on sedimentation rates and risks. The model was implemented using the common Geographic Information Systems tools. To achieve this objective, mean annual and monthly rainfall, as well as sediment data, were used (December 2016 and April 2017). Land use and land cover changes were assessed using time-series Landsat data acquired between the years 2000 and 2016. The Revised Universal Soil Loss (RUSLE) model was used to model sedimentation rates in the catchmen

Occupational hazards, injuries and illnesses associated with small scale gold mining: case of Ward 19, Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

The paper sought to identify major occupational hazards, establish causes and nature of physical injuries and illnesses associated with small scale gold mines in Zvishavane. Three out of eleven identified mines from ward 19 were randomly selected for the study. Juxtaposed with observations, questionnaires were administered to all 34 mine employees in the respective mines to identify the types of hazards in the mines. Interviews were then conducted with three mine owners from each mine to establish the mines status quo with regards to injuries and illnesses. It was revealed that dust; heat, humidity, tools and equipment were the common hazards in all the mines. Substandard maintenance of tools and equipment as well as working under the influence of alcohol were identified as the major causes of injuries. These injuries included, among others, 20% lacerations, 20% cuts and 17 % crushes. The main reported illnesses were pneumoconiosis related due to the dusty environments the workers were always exposed to. The paper therefore advocates for more financial support from the mine owners towards employees’ safety in order to ensure a health and vibrant workforce for sustainability in production. Fundamental training programmes should be put in place to educate particularly the mine owners on the ultimate accrued benefits of safety on the employee and the nation at large

Occupational hazards, injuries and illnesses associated with small scale gold mining: case of Ward 19, Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

The paper sought to identify major occupational hazards, establish causes and nature of physical injuries and illnesses associated with small scale gold mines in Zvishavane. Three out of eleven identified mines from ward 19 were randomly selected for the study. Juxtaposed with observations, questionnaires were administered to all 34 mine employees in the respective mines to identify the types of hazards in the mines. Interviews were then conducted with three mine owners from each mine to establish the mines status quo with regards to injuries and illnesses. It was revealed that dust; heat, humidity, tools and equipment were the common hazards in all the mines. Substandard maintenance of tools and equipment as well as working under the influence of alcohol were identified as the major causes of injuries. These injuries included, among others, 20% lacerations, 20% cuts and 17 % crushes. The main reported illnesses were pneumoconiosis related due to the dusty environments the workers were always exposed to. The paper therefore advocates for more financial support from the mine owners towards employees’ safety in order to ensure a health and vibrant workforce for sustainability in production. Fundamental training programmes should be put in place to educate particularly the mine owners on the ultimate accrued benefits of safety on the employee and the nation at large

Overcoming environmental challenges in the cement manufacturing sector throughcleaner production: a case of Sino Company, Zimbabwe

The paper investigated the extent to which Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company (SZCC) implemented Cleaner Production (CP) options to deal with high emissions and waste emanating from its operations. Research data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, direct observations and document analysis. Two sets of questionnaires were prepared targeting workers and the local community who were direct recipients of pollutants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants such as the Production Manager, the Human Resource Manager, the Finance Manager, Engineering Manager, the Health and Safety Officer and the District Environmental Management Agency Officer. Research findings revealed a reduction in dust emissions, volume of discharged effluent, residuals of oil contaminants and energy consumption. However, solid waste generation and its subsequent disposal remains a problem. Whilst adoption of CP can be viewed as a panacea to most environmental challenges faced by the organization, more investment is required towards elimination of some sources and cause of waste and emissions generation

The impact of climate change on the potential distribution of agricultural pests: the case of the coffee white stem borer (Monochamus leuconotus P.) in Zimbabwe.

The production of agricultural commodities faces increased risk of pests, diseases and other stresses due to climate change and variability. This study assesses the potential distribution of agricultural pests under projected climatic scenarios using evidence from the African coffee white stem borer (CWB), Monochamus leuconotus (Pascoe) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an important pest of coffee in Zimbabwe. A species distribution modeling approach utilising Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) was applied on current and projected climate data obtained from the WorldClim database and occurrence data (presence and absence) collected through on-farm biological surveys in Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mutare and Mutasa districts in Zimbabwe. Results from both the BRT and GLM indicate that precipitation-related variables are more important in determining species range for the CWB than temperature related variables. The CWB has extensive potential habitats in all coffee areas with Mutasa district having the largest model average area suitable for CWB under current and projected climatic conditions. Habitat ranges for CWB will increase under future climate scenarios for Chipinge, Chimanimani and Mutare districts while it will decrease in Mutasa district. The highest percentage change in area suitable for the CWB was for Chimanimani district with a model average of 49.1% (3 906 ha) increase in CWB range by 2080. The BRT and GLM predictions gave similar predicted ranges for Chipinge, Chimanimani and Mutasa districts compared to the high variation in current and projected habitat area for CWB in Mutare district. The study concludes that suitable area for CWB will increase significantly in Zimbabwe due to climate change and there is need to develop adaptation mechanisms

Data from: The impact of climate change on the potential distribution of agricultural pests: the case of the coffee white stem borer (Monochamus leuconotus P.) in Zimbabwe

The production of agricultural commodities faces increased risk of pests, diseases and other stresses due to climate change and variability. This study assesses the potential distribution of agricultural pests under projected climatic scenarios using evidence from the African coffee white stem borer (CWB), Monochamus leuconotus (Pascoe) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an important pest of coffee in Zimbabwe. A species distribution modeling approach utilising Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) was applied on current and projected climate data obtained from the WorldClim database and occurrence data (presence and absence) collected through on-farm biological surveys in Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mutare and Mutasa districts in Zimbabwe. Results from both the BRT and GLM indicate that precipitation-related variables are more important in determining species range for the CWB than temperature related variables. The CWB has extensive potential habitats in all coffee areas with Mutasa district having the largest model average area suitable for CWB under current and projected climatic conditions. Habitat ranges for CWB will increase under future climate scenarios for Chipinge, Chimanimani and Mutare districts while it will decrease in Mutasa district. The highest percentage change in area suitable for the CWB was for Chimanimani district with a model average of 49.1% (3 906 ha) increase in CWB range by 2080. The BRT and GLM predictions gave similar predicted ranges for Chipinge, Chimanimani and Mutasa districts compared to the high variation in current and projected habitat area for CWB in Mutare district. The study concludes that suitable area for CWB will increase significantly in Zimbabwe due to climate change and there is need to develop adaptation mechanisms

Occurrence data for the coffee white stem borer in Zimbabwe obtained from biological surveys

Data collected from biological field surveys done in 2003. The data shows the XY cordinates of coffee farms surveyed and the occurrence of CWB (1 present, 0 absent) The data is in decimal degrees format (WGS84) and unprojected

Probability of occurrence of CWB that determines its distribution surface in the four Districts.

<p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0073432#pone-0073432-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2(a)</a> shows the probability of CWB occurrence for each area obtained from BRT model. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0073432#pone-0073432-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2(b)</a> shows the probability of CWB occurrence for each area obtained from GLM.</p

Environmental layers used for current and predicted climate in the study.

<p>Environmental layers used for current and predicted climate in the study.</p