Oxfam Southern Africa Blog

The fine line between self-help and active citizenship

March 11th, 2010 Posted in English, Mozambique | No Comments »

By Nellie Nyang’wa

In the 1960s, when most African states were gaining independence from colonial powers, political leaders placed a great deal of emphasis on “self-help” as the road to development. Various structures were established to develop and implement self-help projects, and many still exist in our communities today: farmer clubs mobilise resources to buy seed; social groups take care of orphans and sick people; and parents mobilise to mould bricks to build a school block for their children or a house for a teacher. Some structures grew from voluntary community involvement, while others were set up within a government framework and governed by certain bylaws. Many are doing commendable work within the limitations of their resources. Continue »

Patriarchal power – it’s a system

March 8th, 2010 Posted in English, Zimbabwe | No Comments »

By Nellie Nyang’wa

Southern Africa is a highly patriarchal society. Patriarchal power plays out in many different scenarios and is exercised by both women and men. Women in the region, however, find themselves in an awkward position since they can, on the one hand, be the subjects of patriarchal power and, on the other, be the power holders within the traditional system.

What is interesting is that when women hold the power they often act without regard to who they are as individuals. It’s the difficulty of wearing too many hats – you’re a mother, a mother-in-law, a daughter-in-law, a wife, and a sister. The patriarchal system defines how women behave when they wear each of these hats and it can be contradictory and confusing, not to mention emotionally stressful. Continue »

Women’s emotional health, a development agenda?

March 3rd, 2010 Posted in English, Zimbabwe | 1 Comment »

What drives women’s commitment to initiatives, if not income?

By Nellie Nyang’wa

In the past few years I have worked quite closely with home-based care and support groups in the context of Oxfam’s HIV and AIDS programming. I have also met with several women’s forums, where women participate in income-generating initiatives and train each other in various skills. I have often wondered about the economic sense of such initiatives. Continue »

Women in Zimbabwe: “We want a future”

March 2nd, 2010 Posted in English | No Comments »

The UN Commission on the Status of Women convenes in New York on March 1 to look at gender equality and the advancement of women. The ongoing challenge is how to help young women with few choices, like Privilege Zengeni, realise their aspirations.

By Nicole Johnston

Privilege Zengeni is a breathtakingly articulate young woman, with a direct manner and bright smile. She also embodies the challenges facing young Zimbabwean women, and their resilience.

We met when she approached me at a meeting of a cash transfer scheme run by Oxfam partner, Lead Trust, in Bulawayo. Drawn by my video and digital camera, she was shy but came straight to the point: “Can you please show me how that works? I want to be a journalist one day.” Continue »

Love, care and vegetables

February 26th, 2010 Posted in English, Zimbabwe | No Comments »

Lush food gardens set up by an Oxfam partner have been a lifeline for communities in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, in the recent economic hardships.

By Nicole Johnston

The Matobo district of Matabeleland has some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, full of massive granite boulders balancing in improbable formations and with views so breathtaking that Cecil John Rhodes insisted on being buried there.

It is also home to some incredibly resourceful people, determined to take the lemons life has handed them and make lemonade. The area is traditionally arid but has become even drier in the past decade, with drought following drought, putting strain on communities whose primary livelihood is agriculture. Continue »

Everything’s coming up roses

February 17th, 2010 Posted in English | 1 Comment »

Since the devastating cholera epidemic that broke out in Zimbabwe in the first part of 2009, Oxfam and a local partner in Bulawayo have been working with communities to improve sanitation and protect against future outbreaks.

By Nicole Johnston

The devastating cholera epidemic that hit Zimbabwe last year not only drew international attention, but also helped to mobilise communities. In Bulawayo, the country’s second city, Oxfam and its partner organisation the Lead Trust have been working with communities to improve sanitation standards and protect themselves against such outbreaks in future.

During the country’s economic meltdown, many public services simply ceased to function, from rubbish removal to public sanitation facilities, posing obvious dangers to the quality of life of the people of the city, and particularly the poor in the high-density areas. Continue »

Fair Play for Africa campaign launched!

February 16th, 2010 Posted in English | No Comments »

By Pooven Moodley

A wave of excitement is blowing through Africa as we move closer to the first Soccer World Cup ever to be hosted on the continent.

While I have played the “beautiful game” for many years, my passion for sport has been redirected to my passion for freedom and social justice. This is the opportune time to use the platform of sport to highlight and create momentum around the social issues on the continent.

While it is clear that the World Cup will benefit the private sector, what legacy will it leave for the poor? Beyond the temporary jobs created and better transport infrastructure, will the life of a person living in Ghana, for example, be improved?

The Fair Play for Africa campaign is here to make sure it is. Continue »

The calling of Kadye

February 3rd, 2010 Posted in English, Zimbabwe | No Comments »

Oxfam partner the Magaraba Trust has planted thousands of indigenous trees in Zimbabwe.

By Caroline Gwature

A Zimbabwean organisation has planted more than 5,000 indigenous traditional plants in order to fight deforestation.

Victor Kadye (65), the founder of the Magaraba Trust, said he had a vision in 2006 when Mbuya Nehanda, an icon in Zimbabwean history, appeared to him in a series of dreams.

Kadye said the prophetic dreams showed Zimbabwe as a desert, and millions of people suffering poverty and disease because of deforestation. The vision ordered him to plant indigenous trees to avert this looming disaster. Continue »

Villagers seek refuge at school after lion attacks

January 28th, 2010 Posted in English, Zimbabwe | No Comments »

By Caroline Gwature

About 300 people have fled from their homes in Kanyemba area in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland central province after lions killed four villagers.

Mbire district authorities reported that the affected families sought refuge at the nearby Chapoto Primary School in Kanyemba, while others erected makeshift shelters. But the school term is in progress and so accommodating the families at the school will disrupt learning activities. An urgent solution is needed. Continue »

“We were already struggling to survive”

January 27th, 2010 Posted in Climate Change, English, Malawi | 1 Comment »

By Nicole Johnston

The last time I saw Caroline Malema was in Cape Town, where she had testified at Oxfam’s Pan African Climate Change hearings. She was excited and proud to have been able to speak on behalf of HIV-positive women affected by climate change.

This week I saw her again, standing outside the crumbling remains of her home in Karonga, strain etched on her face as she showed me the grass and plastic shelter her family now sleeps in, in the backyard. Continue »