Ngwenya Sifelani, Lunga Wilfred, van Eeden Elize S
Africa Centre Disaster Studies, Faculty of Natural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
Jamba. 2022 Sep 27;14(1):1210. doi: 10.4102/jamba.v14i1.1210. eCollection 2022.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing food insecurity for many centuries. This study sought to explore and learn from Zimbabwe's past and current food security (FS) efforts and challenges, through three historical periods, namely the precolonial, colonial and postcolonial, from about 1430 to 2020. The year 1430 marks the establishment of the Monomotapa state, one of the starting points for Zimbabwe's own national reconstruction. Adopting a qualitative paradigm, data were obtained using document review and interviewing 85 purposively selected key informants, some of whom were found using snowballing. The study found that the adopted FS strategies during the precolonial, colonial and postcolonial periods were dynamic and mainly derived by new political agendas and crises. The food production and storage aspects of the colonial period were built around agricultural extension services and Grain Marketing Board strategies. The postcolonial period FS initiatives pivoted on humanitarian and development programs. Zimbabwe's FS initiatives across the three historical periods remain susceptible to various challenges (droughts, political antagonism, bureaucracy, partisanship, corruption, incapacitation and weak support systems). As such, Zimbabwe's food insecurity levels remain far away from being a reality, unless the identified challenges are taken head-on by all stakeholders. Therefore, the study recommends that informed local wisdom be given space in finding a lasting solution to food insecurity. Meanwhile, multistakeholder inclusivity, knowledge development and management should be made the crux of FS-related initiatives. This could foster new partnerships and encourage the ethic of working together and participation towards ensuring FS.
津巴布韦在许多个世纪以来一直面临粮食不安全问题。本研究旨在通过三个历史时期，即大约1430年至2020年的前殖民时期、殖民时期和后殖民时期，探索津巴布韦过去和当前的粮食安全（FS）努力及挑战，并从中吸取经验教训。1430年标志着莫诺莫塔帕王国的建立，这是津巴布韦自身国家重建的起点之一。本研究采用定性范式，通过文献回顾和对85名经过有目的挑选的关键信息提供者进行访谈来获取数据，其中一些信息提供者是通过滚雪球的方式找到的。研究发现，在前殖民时期、殖民时期和后殖民时期所采用的粮食安全战略是动态的，主要由新的政治议程和危机所推动。殖民时期的粮食生产和储存方面是围绕农业推广服务和粮食营销委员会的战略构建的。后殖民时期的粮食安全举措以人道主义和发展项目为核心。津巴布韦在这三个历史时期的粮食安全举措仍然容易受到各种挑战（干旱、政治对抗、官僚主义、党派之争、腐败、能力不足和支持系统薄弱）的影响。因此，除非所有利益相关者直面已确定的挑战，否则津巴布韦的粮食不安全状况仍将远远无法得到改善。因此，该研究建议在寻找解决粮食不安全问题的持久方案时，应给予明智的本土智慧发挥作用的空间。与此同时，多利益相关者的包容性、知识发展和管理应成为与粮食安全相关举措的核心。这可以促进新的伙伴关系，并鼓励共同努力和参与的道德风尚，以确保粮食安全。
