Recommendations CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
responsibilities be transmitted to women and men, poor and rich. This means fair opportunities to access, use and control water resources, as well as equitable
acceptance of responsibility for the negative side effects produced so as to avoid placing higher burdens on the poor or disadvantaged members of society. This
should not just be on paper but in practice and supported by statutory instruments. This will also help reduce conflicts.
The common assumption in the water sector that the formalisation of women’s rights to water will overcome the problems of inequitable access shaped
by tradition and culture, can only be true if formalised rights are put to practise. Getting rid of socio-cultural disparities can take time and effort but it is worth the
hassle if gender is to play a central role in water management. A policy reform is recommended though that would be expensive and too
early considering that the current one is not yet fully established. It would make better sense to translate the good clauses into practice with improvements as
discussed. Capacity building, affirmative action and legal protection of the poor are recommended.
Since the population is not ready for a fully demand based approach, a social agenda must be maintained with state providing water with subsidies,
supply based approach. Though some researchers recommend full privatisation I echo the sentiments of those who recommend public provision since the nation is
not ready for such a system. An on the ground study needs to be carried out to verify the conclusions
made here since they are based solely on secondary data and logical deductions.
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ABSTRACT
SINIKIWE DUBE. Impact of Water Policy on Poverty Reduction and Women
Roles in Water Management in Zimbabwe. Supervised by ARYA HADI DHARMAWAN and SOERYO ADIWIBOWO
Water management is a key factor in the battle to remove the scourge of extreme poverty and to build secure and prosperous lives for people in the
developing world. The water sector in Zimbabwe is complicated by the large number of actors; it is interwoven within various ministries. The research used secondary
data and review of literature to evaluate how the current water policy has contributed towards marginalising women and the poor. It looked at how actors can also
marginalise or put other actors at risk thereby undermining their role through prioritisation of certain projects, stakeholder participation and usage policy. From a
descriptive analysis it is found that women are further relegated and marginalised. The poor are further impoverished through marginalisation and vulnerability. The
policy environment favours business and state interests against those of grassroots actors and women. It recommends the establishment of home grown pro- poor water
management strategies.
Key words: water policy, women participation, poverty reduction, natural
resources, Zimbabwe
SUMMARY
SINIKIWE DUBE. Impact of Water Policy on Poverty Reduction and Women Roles in Water Management in Zimbabwe. Supervised by ARYA HADI
DHARMAWAN and SOERYO ADIWIBOWO
Water management is a key factor in the battle to remove the scourge of extreme poverty and to build secure and prosperous lives for people in the
developing world. The government of Zimbabwe reformed water policy in through institutional and statutory reforms. This was aimed at decentralising management to
catchment areas among other goals. The water sector in Zimbabwe is complicated by the large number of actors;
it is interwoven within various ministries. The research used secondary data and review of literature to evaluate how the current water policy has contributed to
women roles and poverty reduction. The specific objectives are to evaluate actor interests and roles in the current
water sector in Zimbabwe; to evaluate the effect of reticulation and usage policies on women’s access to and roles in water resource management; to evaluate the
contribution of water usage and reticulation policies on poverty reduction in Zimbabwe; and to propose strategies that can improve reticulation and usage policies
in the country. It looked at how actors can also marginalise or put other actors at risk
thereby undermining their role through prioritisation of certain projects, stakeholder participation and usage policy. From a descriptive analysis it is found that women
are further relegated and marginalised. The poor are further impoverished through marginalisation and vulnerability.
The policy environment favours business and state interests against those of grassroots actors and women. Narratives of scarcity were used to effect change and
remove power from some previously powerful actors and the poor actors in the name of improving their livelihoods.
The policy has contributed negatively to poverty reduction as the poor remain poorer. Women’s ‘traditional’ roles were lost to the new modern structures. They
lack equal representation in water management bodies. The study recommends the establishment of home grown pro- poor water management strategies. Capacity
building and affirmative action is needed for water managers and women and poor grassroots actors to enable their participation hence defend their interests.
Key words: water policy, women participation, poverty reduction, natural resources,
Zimbabwe