The study assessed women’s participation in the Communal Area Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) activities in southeast Zimbabwe. The study collected data using an interview questionnaire administered to five CAMPFIRE committees in October 2014. There were relatively no differences in the selected attributes on CAMPFIRE committee composition across the five study communities i.e., 1) the number of people and their level of education, and 2) gender and age composition. There were more men (5 ± 0.11) than women (2 ± 0.02) in CAMPFIRE program committees across the five study communities. Men dominate leadership and decision making over CAMPFIRE in south-eastern Zimbabwe. Yet, it is the women who use most of the natural resources at household level, such as game meat, wild fruits and wild vegetables as relish, fuel wood as source of energy for cooking, and baskets woven from woodland products. It was concluded that despite all the benefits that a gender sensitive approach could bring to CAMPFIRE, women participation in CAMPFIRE programs in southeast Zimbabwe was still low as evidenced by their numbers in committees that make decisions for the program. There was need for deliberate action to ensure increased women participation in CAMPFIRE programs, especially at the decision-making level. A certain number of committee positions in CAMPFIRE should be reserved for women.
References
[1]
Mashapa, C. (2018) Human Livelihoods and Sustainable Conservation: Herbivory and Anthropogenic Impacts on Woody Vegetation and Ecosystem Goods in Save Valley, Southeastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe. Ph.D. Thesis, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi.
[2]
Mashapa, C., Gandiwa, E. and Muboko, N. (2019) Socio-Economic and Ecological Outcomes of Woodland Management in Mutema-Musikavanhu Communal Areas in Save Valley, Southeastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 29, 1075-1087.
[3]
German, L.A., Colfer, C.J.P., Barrow, E., Küchli, C., Blaser, J. and Wardojo, W. (2010) Forest Governance and Decentralization in Africa: Linking Local, Regional and Global Dialogues. In: Governing Africa’s Forests in a Globalized World, The Earthscan Forest Library, New York, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781849774512
[4]
Gandiwa, E., Zisadza-Gandiwa, P., Mashapa, C., Libombo, E. and Muboko, N. (2014) An Assessment of Local People Participation in Natural Resources Conservation in Southern Zimbabwe. Journal of Environmental Research and Management, 5, 42-46.
[5]
Devkota, R.R. (2010) Interests and Power as Drivers of Community Forestry: A Case Study of Nepal. University of Göttingen, Göttingen. https://doi.org/10.17875/gup2010-281
[6]
Mashapa, C., Mhuriro-Mashapa, P., Zisadza-Gandiwa, P. and Gandiwa, E. (2013) Adoption of Agro-Ecology Practices in Semi-Arid Environment of Chimanimani District, Eastern Zimbabwe. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 15, 1-19.
[7]
Mashapa, C., Gandiwa, E., Mhuriro-Mashapa, P. and Zisadza-Gandiwa, P. (2014) Increasing Demand on Natural Forest Products in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Mutare, Eastern Zimbabwe: Implications for Sustainable Natural Resources Management. Nature and Faune, 28, 42-48.
[8]
Gandiwa, E., Zisadza-Gandiwa, P., Muboko, N., Libombo, E., Mashapa, C. and Gwazani, R. (2014) Local Peoples’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Wildlife Conservation in Southeastern Zimbabwe. Journal of Environmental Protection, 5, 474-485. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2014.56050
[9]
Murphree, M.W. (2009) The Strategic Pillars of Communal Natural Resource Management: Benefit, Empowerment and Conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation, 18, 2551-2562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-009-9644-0
[10]
Gandiwa, E., Heitkönig, I.M.A., Lokhorst, A.M., Prins, H.H.T. and Leeuwis, C. (2013) CAMPFIRE and Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Local Communities Bordering Northern Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. Ecological Society, 18, 7. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-05817-180407
[11]
Child, B. (2000) Making Wildlife Pay: Converting Wildlife’s Comparative Advantage into Real Incentives for Having Wildlife in African Savannas, Case Studies from Zimbabwe and Zambia. In: Prins, H.T., et al., Eds., Wildlife Conservation by Sustainable Use, Volume 18, Springer, New York, 335-387. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4012-6_17
[12]
Logan, B.I. and Moseley, W.G. (2002) The Political Ecology of Poverty Alleviation in Zimbabwe’s Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE). Geoforum, 33, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7185(01)00027-6
[13]
Murphree, M.W. (2001) Community, Council and Client: A Case Study in Ecotourism Development from Mahenye, Zimbabwe. In: Hume, D. and Murphree, M.W., Eds., African Wildlife and Livelihoods. The Promise and Performance of Community Conservation, James Currey, Suffolk, 177-194.
[14]
Muboko, N. and Murindagomo, F. (2014) Wildlife Control, Access and Utilisation: Lessons from Legislation, Policy Evolution and Implementation in Zimbabwe. Journal of Nature and Conservation, 22, 206-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2013.12.002
[15]
Westermann, O., Ashby, J. and Pretty, J. (2005) Gender and Social Capital: The Importance of Gender Differences for the Maturity and Effectiveness of Natural Resource Management Groups. World Development, 33, 1783-1799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.04.018
[16]
Moswete, N.N., Thapa, B. and Child, B. (2012) Attitudes and Opinions of Local and National Public Sector Stakeholders towards Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 19, 67-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2011.592551
[17]
Mutandwa, E. and Gadzirayi, C.T. (2007) Impact of Community-Based Approaches to Wildlife Management: Case Study of the CAMPFIRE Programme in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 14, 336-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500709469734
[18]
Gaidzanwa, R. (1994) Women’s Land Rights in Zimbabwe. Issue, 22, 12-16. https://doi.org/10.2307/1166726
[19]
Martino, D. (2008) Gender and Urban Perceptions of Nature and Protected Areas in Beñados del Este Biosphere Reserve. Environmental Management, 41, 654-662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9069-7
[20]
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) (2011) Gonarezhou National Park General Management Plan 2011-2021. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Harare.
[21]
Gandiwa, E. (2012) Local Knowledge and Perceptions of Animal Population Abundances by Communities Adjacent to the Northern Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. Tropical Conservation Science, 5, 255-269. https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291200500303
[22]
CAMPFIRE Association (n.d.) What We Do. http://campfirezimbabwe.org/index.php/about-th/1-principles
[23]
White, P.C.L., Jennings, N.V., Renwick, A.R. and Barker, N.H.L. (2001) Questionnaires in Ecology: A Review of Past Use and Recommendations for Best Practice. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42, 421-430. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.01032.x
[24]
Meekers, D. (1993) The Noble Custom of Roora: The Marriage Practices of the Shona of Zimbabwe. Ethnology, 32, 35-54. https://doi.org/10.2307/3773544
[25]
Agarwal, B. (2003) Gender and Land Rights Revisited: Exploring New Prospects via the State, Family, and Market. Journal of Agrarian Change, 3, 184-224. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0366.00054
[26]
Moyana, H.V. (1984) The Political Economy of Land in Zimbabwe. Mambo Press, Harare.
[27]
Schmidt, E. (1992) Peasants, Traders and Wives: Shona Women in the History of Zimbabwe 1870-1939. In: Social History of Africa, Volume 13, Wiley, New York, 289 p.
[28]
Kristof, N.D. and WuDunn, S. (2009) Saving the World’s Women. The New York Times, 28.
[29]
Agarwal, B. (2009) Gender and Forest Conservation: The Impact of Women’s Participation in Community Forest Governance. Ecological Economics, 68, 2785-2799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.04.025
[30]
Prokopy, L.S. (2004) Women’s Participation in Rural Water Supply Projects in India: Is It Moving beyond Tokenism and Does It Matter? Water Policy, 6, 103-116. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2004.0007
[31]
Fortmann, L. (1992) The Use of Indigenous Trees in Mhondoro District. Harare: Centre for Applied Social Science. University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.
[32]
Singh, N. (2006) Women’s Participation in Local Water Governance: Understanding Institutional Contradictions. Gender, Technology and Development, 10, 61-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/097185240501000104
[33]
Sultana, F. (2006) Gendered Waters, Poisoned Wells: Political Ecology of the Arsenic Crisis in Bangladesh. In: Lahiri-Dutt, K., Ed., Fluid Bonds: Views on Gender and Water, STREE, Kolkata, 362-387.
[34]
Lambrou, Y and Laub, R. (2004) Gender Perspectives on the Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.
[35]
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2005) Bioenergy-Committee on Agriculture. 19th Session, Rome, April 2005.
[36]
Belsky, J.M. (2003) Unmasking the ‘‘Local”: Gender, Community, and the Politics of Community-Based Rural Ecotourism in Belize. In: Brechin, S.R., Wilshusen, P.R., Fortwangler, C.L. and West, P.C., Eds., Contested Nature: Promoting International Biodiversity Conservation with Social Justice in the Twenty-First Century, State University of New York Press, Albany, NY, 89-101
[37]
Shrestha, K.K. (2005) Collective Action and Equity in Nepalese Community Forestry. The University of Sydney, Sydney.
[38]
Wangari Maathai Foundation (2015) Green Belt Movement. National Council of Women of Kenya University of Nairobi, Kenya.
[39]
ZimVac (2015) Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee, Zimbabwe Rural Livelihoods Assessment May 2015 Report. Food and Nutrition Council. SIRDIC, Harare.
[40]
Nyoni, S. (1985) Africa’s Food Crisis: Price of Ignoring Village Women? In: Women and the Environment Crisis, Environment Liaison Centre, Nairobi.
[41]
Dankelman, I. and Davidson, J. (1988) Women and Environment in the Third World. Earthscan Publications, Ltd., London.
