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The WUASpace is an open access digital archive which collects, preserves, and disseminates scholarly content produced by the WUA community. WUASpace contains journal articles, book chapters, postgraduate thesis/dissertations, conference papers, pre-prints, working papers, technical reports, progress reports, project reports, among others.
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Agricultural Livelihoods at Risk: Climate Change Impacts and Resilience Strategies in Eastern Zimbabwe
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025-04-26) Lawrence Mango; Alfred Mapolisa; Cosmas Mudzonga; Luke Makarichi; Kingsley Okpara; Techato Kua-anan; Melody Muzvidzan; Marshall Mangirichi Magenge
Climate change is expected to exacerbate existing challenges facing smallholder farmers and create novel vulnerabilities, particularly in subSaharan Africa. The vulnerability of smallholder farmers is compounded by their reliance on rain-fed agriculture and widespread poverty. The study employed a multi-methodological approach, incorporating questionnaires and observational methods, as well as an extensive literature review, to investigate agricultural livelihoods, climate change impacts on agriculture, and climate resilience adaptation strategies. The study’s demographic characteristics revealed a male-dominated sample, with ~60% of respondents having attended school from the secondary to tertiary level and 83% having access to extension services. The study findings indicate that climate change has significantly impacted agricultural livelihoods in eastern Zimbabwe, manifesting as drying of rivers and water scarcity, altered rainfall and temperature patterns, and reduced crop yields and deforestation, resulting in the loss of livestock, and human migration. The results suggest that climate change has diminished agricultural livelihoods, with increased impacts attributed to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall patterns. The study recommends the adoption of climate-resilient strategies, including water harvesting and storage, efficient irrigation schemes, cultivation of drought-tolerant crops and early warning systems. The diversification of on-farm income sources, proper livestock management, education and training, and climate-smart agriculture help mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture.
Worrying cadmium and lead levels in a commonly cultivated vegetable irrigated with river water in Zimbabwe
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2020-08-10) Handsen Tibugari , Gerald Mafere , Sinikiwe Dube , Murawu Chakavarika , Ronald Mandumbu , Joseph P. Musara , Rangarirai Mapuranga , Tapiwa Gumbo , Annabel Banda , Ndabanye Mathema , Tatenda Goche , Bernard M. Zvigumbu & Nkosentsha Mpofu; Gerald Mafere; Sinikiwe Dube; Murawu Chakavarika; Ronald Mandumbu; Joseph P. Musara; Rangarirai Mapuranga; Tapiwa Gumbo; Annabel Banda; Ndabanye Mathema; Tatenda Goche; Bernard M. Zvigumbu; Nkosentsha Mpofu
Vegetable cultivation using river water, which may be polluted with heavy metals, can cause health problems to consumers. A study to establish cadmium and lead levels in water from Msasa, Manyame; Mukuvisi and Nyatsime Rivers was conducted in 2019. A questionnaire survey involving 105 randomly selected urban vegetable growers was conducted to examine farmer knowledge of the potential of polluted water to contaminate produce through heavy metals. Water, soil and vegetable samples were also collected and analysed for heavy metal presence using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that some farmers (62%) were aware that wastewater could contain heavy metals. The majority of farmers (67%) applied phosphate-based fertilisers, a potential source of cadmium. Tested at P < 0.05, the results showed that sampled water from the four sites failed to meet the Standards Association of Zimbabwe 5560 (1997) standards. Cadmium tissue concentration from wastewater from Msasa and Manyame rivers was 1.3 and 1.17 mg g−1 respectively, which were 59 and 65 times higher than 0.02 mg g−1 from the control. Water from Manyame and Nyatsime rivers contains levels of heavy.metals which exceed the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) safety guidelines. Farmers need to be educated on health hazards from contaminated wastewater. Enforcing regulations on effluent disposal, licencing of vegetable vendors and labelling of vegetables with information on source of water used to irrigate the crop can help reduce exposure of unsuspecting vegetable consumers.
Household solid waste handling practices and recycling value for integrated solid waste management in a developing city in Zimbabwe
(Elsevier, 2022-03-15) Norah Muisa Zikali; Richman Munyaradzi Chingoto; Beaven Utete; Francisca Kunedzimwe
Municipalities in developing countries are failing to cope with large volumes of solid
wastes generated by rapidly increasing urban populations resulting in environmental and
public health risks. This study aimed to: (a) quantify, (b) characterize solid wastes, (c) assess potential for on-site reuse and off-site recycling practices at household and suburb
levels, and d) evaluate the possible economic benefits that could accrue from on-site reuse
and off-site recycling practices in Dangamvura (low-income), Yeovil (middle-income) and
Hospital Hill (high-income) suburbs in Mutare City in Zimbabwe. Solid waste was measured from 23 households per suburb. Pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires were
used for determining on-site waste handling practices. Weighing scales were used for
waste quantification. Results indicated that at least 70% of residents in Dangamvura neither reused waste nor practiced off-site recycling of litter. Between 50% and 80% of people
claimed to practice waste reuse and off-site recycling in Yeovil and Hospital Hill respectively. However, about 84% recyclables were found in the waste bins of the sampled households across all three suburbs. The readily recyclables (plastic, paper, metal cans) constituted 44%, potentially recyclables (glass and organic waste)-40% and others-16%. The clear
discrepancy of generated solid waste quantities obtained from interview responses and validated weight data indicated a need to substantiate data from questionnaires with actual
waste measurements. Through improper waste handling, Dangamvura loses nearly US$45,
000/month potential income from the readily recyclables. This money could provide an
income of approximately US$500/month for 90 families. Municipal authorities must collect recyclables from a whole suburb rather than individual households as a viable waste
management and poverty alleviation strategy to sustain livelihoods and minimise health
hazards in developing countries such as Zimbabwe.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Riparian Based Livelihoods in Semi Arid Parts of Zimbabwe (A Geotechnological Approach)
(Taylor and Francis Online, 2021-07-06) Francisca Kunedzimwe; Olga Laiza Kupika; Samuel Kusangaya
This paper presents a study based approach to assess climate change vulnerability for riparian based livelihoods in the semi-arid region of Zimbabwe, who had limited
abilities to cope with the adverse effects of climate change. The study area is the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe which are ranked as being extremely vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate variability because of poverty and limited access to clean water as well as education. There has been a difficulty in the identification of vulnerable
communities and the full exploitation of these assessments by policy implementers though adaptive capacity and vulnerability assessment help in guiding policy formulation
through the identification of with low copying capacities. The study used a geo-stastistical approach was used to assess and evaluate adaptive capacities of resource
poor communities in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. A multi step geospatial approach was used to map adaptive capacities of different communities. Statistical
component used demographic indicators comprising of age, literacy levels, income levels, Temperature and rainfall and access to clean water run automated
summation and ranking of indicator scores in Maxent to produce maps with spatial locations of communities with varying levels of different levels of adaptive
capacities as well as crop suitability maps.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Trends on Habitat Disturbance Between 1986 And 2021 In Protected Areas of, Zimbabwe
(2022-04-12) Francisca Kunedzimwe; Victor K Muposhi; Philip Taru
The main aim of this research is to analyse spatio- temporal trends on habitat disturbance between 1986 and 2021 in protected areas of, Zimbabwe with a focus on anthropogenic activities such as mining which are leading to biodiversity loss, habitat and ecosystem services disturbances. This paper provides an overview of recent studies using Remote Sensing (RS and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to assess the extent of mining disturbance on plant habitats in protected areas of Zimbabwe. Through a systematic review, literature hotspot analysis was done as well as a trend analysis at regional specific level together with statistical tests in order to come up with an overview of the past studies which were done on habitat disturbance in protected areas of Zimbabwe over a thirty-five-year period. The paper highlights the complex nature of the impacts of mining as well as discuss spatial research methods, data sources and limitations. The results indicated an exponential growth of scientific literature on human-environment interactions in the mining environments at regional scale and a non- monotonic trend at country level. This has prompted a need to synthesize literature to guide future research. Conclusively there is limited research done on habitat disturbance in protected mining environments, hence the need for advanced geospatial scientific studies in the future on spatio-temporal analysis of trends on habitat disturbance.