Browsing by Author "Maphosa, Mandlenkosi"

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    Enhancing food security through micro- irrigation: Evaluating the contribution of treadle pumps to household food security in Umzingwane district of Zimbabwe
    (2014) Maphosa, Mandlenkosi; Dube, Tomson; Dube, Zenzo L.; Ncube, Gracsious; Tshuma, Nevel
    Amongst a plethora of challenges facing the African continent today is the food security issue. Close to 240 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are food insecure (Bremner, 2012). A number of reasons have been advanced to explain the food insecurity situation of which inter-alia include climate change, low food and agricultural productivity and production. This article is centred on assessing the use of treadle pumps micro irrigation technologies strategy in an attempt to counter low food and agricultural productivity in Umzingwane district of Zimbabwe. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used with data being collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. A total of 100 smallholder farmers participated in the study which covered 6 Wards. Study findings reveal that the use of treadle pumps improves household food security though this inevitably comes at a cost to the natural environment. This is largely due to the way in which this form of micro-irrigation is practiced in the District. However, notwithstanding the positive contribution of treadle pumps to household food security, the use of these pumps is fraught with a number of challenges some of which include lack of backup services, spares, marketing and an unsupportive institutional environment.
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    The Impact Of Conservation Agriculture On Food Security And Livelihoods In Mangwe District
    (2012) Tshuma, Nevel; Maphosa, Mandlenkosi; Ncube, Gracsious; Dube, Tomson; Dube, Zenzo L.
    This study assessed the impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on food security and livelihoods in Mangwe district. The paper is based on findings from a research conducted in three wards of Mangwe district. Data was collected through indepth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings show that the adoption of CA is widespread within the District. Key among the findings is that while CA does improve yields per acreage, the improvement does not necessarily translate to improved food security. This is mainly due to climatic factors, including the poor rainfall experienced in the District and the nature of the CA practised. In terms of the impact of CA on livelihoods the study unravelled that CA does extend the range of livelihoods albeit, on a limited scale, through improved yields and income. However, this is also dependent on rainfall levels. The study concluded that while CA holds promise for the food insecure households in Mangwe, the way in which it is currently being practised is too labour intensive and it is necessary to consider the adoption of much more efficient practices especially in the preparation of land.
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    Participation of Women in Zimbabwean Politics and the Mirage of Gender Equity
    (ResearchGate, 2015) Maphosa, Mandlenkosi; Tshuma, Nevel; Maviza, Gracsious
    Zimbabwe has signed and ratified a number of regional and international instruments that call for gender equality in various spheres of life. However, in spite of the existence of these supportive instruments, the country has not fared well in advancing the participation of women in politics. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gender and Development barometer reveals that whilst women participation in politics is still below agreed benchmarks, Zimbabwe’s citizens seem to believe the country is doing well in that regard. This article argues that the discrepancy between the perceived and actual realities in relation to the participation of women in politics is not by accident but is founded on a systemic and calculated maneuver by politically dominant males to open up the political space when necessary and convenient for them. We argue, drawing examples from different political players, that the participation of women in politics has been more of manipulation than a genuine attempt to promote gender equality and equity. The article argues that whilst there have been some moves to bring about parity in numeric terms, there is a glass ceiling for women in terms of how far they can go up the political ladder. It is in this vein that we hypothesize that women have been sold a political dummy where through a raft of cosmetic measures they have been given an impression that they are equals in governance yet on the other hand recent political developments reveal that gender equity in governance remains a mirage for them.