MENVSC (Geography) / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Science / Climate change has brought about a number of global environmental challenges and the worst, climatic disasters such as floods and droughts. In Zimbabwe, particularly in the semi-arid Chivi District, droughts have become more frequent. At the household level, there are a multiplicity of vulnerability and coping mechanisms to this scourge, which have gender dimensions. This study analysed the vulnerability of the Chivi South community to drought and its adaptation with specific consideration to the gender dynamics. The specific objectives for this dissertation were to establish the characteristics and extent of drought occurrences in Chivi District in the last 30 years, assess Chivi South‟s vulnerability to drought, evaluate levels of gender vulnerability to drought, and analyse gendered adaptation to drought. Subsequently, a strategy for drought adaptation in the rural areas of Zimbabwe was drawn. The research was based on the mixed methods approach, as it employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data collection methods included a review of official documents, key informant interviews with community leaders, Non-Governmental Organisations and government officials working in the area, household questionnaires and focus group discussions. The Standardized Precipitation Index was used to determine drought severity. Data was analysed using the SPSS 22.0 software. Capabilities such as Chi-square and cross tabulation were used to effectively analyse data. The Household Vulnerability Index was employed to infer vulnerability and adaptation of the community to drought. Research findings were illustrated using charts, graphs, tables and photographs. The study established the occurrence of droughts in Chivi, with a high prevalence of low magnitude droughts. A decrease in crop food production closely related to drought patterns was noted. Drought vulnerability cuts across the whole gender spectrum, with a sizable number of female headed households being severely exposed. However females adapt better to the effects of drought than males. A holistic approach which seeks to integrate both men and women in decision-making and to improve the community‟s adaptation to drought and other disasters was proposed

PhD (Geography) / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences / Conservation agriculture (CA) which is an agricultural system with the capabilities of conserving soil and water through its zero to minimal tillage, mulching and crop rotation principles has become popular the world over. This study evaluated CA as an adaptation tool to drought in Chivi district, Zimbabwe. It developed a model to enhance adaptation to drought in Chivi and other areas of similar environment. The VLIR-UOUS (2019) Theory of Change (ToC) principles structured interview checklist was used to review the Logical Framework of CA to establish the project design. Questionnaires, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used to characterise the nature of CA in Chivi and to assess the socio-economic impact of the project. Official records were used to compare food crop production yields per hectare under conventional and conservation agriculture. Atlas.ti 8‘s capabilities such as Co oc for frequency of occurrence, Co-code Doc Table for numeric analysis, Networks and report tools for visual and text analysis were employed in data analysis. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 22) was used for its uni-variate and bivariate analysis capabilities. The findings highlighted weaknesses in the Chivi CA principles and project design. It noted a low adoption of the project with some farmers withdrawing from the project against a downward trend in food production, despite CA having higher yields per hectare. The study also noted low socio-economic impact of CA as a project and its potential outside the project framework. The study concludes that CA has can alleviate the drought effects if the project’s framework is adjusted to suit local context / NRF

PHDGS / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / This study examines the views, understandings, beliefs and practices on the effects of drought and how women cope in this regard. Feminist theories such as the Standpoint theory, Intersectionality, Ecofeminism and Social Construction were used to conceptualize the gender roles and practices that continue to hinder equity between men and women. This study was qualitative in design. The population of the study comprised of men and women living in Shashe village. A total number of people interviewed was 24, 6men and 6 women from focus group and 12 participants for individual participants. A purposive sample of participants was drawn from the population of farmers. The researchers targeted farmers, who are affected by erratic rainfall. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The themes that emananted from the study were; environmental effects, economic effects, food scarcity, health effects, distribution of gender roles and coping strategies to drought. The findings showed that there were paradigm shifts in terms of gender relations with regard to drought in many villages, townships and cities today. Furthermore, cultural patterns embedded in patriarchal relationships are accommodating forms of relationships which are not favourable to women. The study recommends that farmers should also have other sources to generate income other than farming because of the changing weather patterns and also to educate women in all dimensions of agriculture so that they are well informed. / NRF