Bad governance and more recently an unstable political settlement, lies at the heart of Zimbabwe's problems. Coupled with more than a decade of economic collapse, Zimbabwean people continue to face very real challenges today.
It is estimated that the current population is 11.4 million, with approximately four million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population, living outside the country. The majority of these people are economic refugees and some who fled the violence in 2008 to 2009.
Issues
Food insecurity: Every year, millions of people rely on food aid in Zimbabwe. In 2011 the number reduced, but drought and erratic rainfall patterns, a ruined infrastructure and an economy in collapse, means millions of people still can't grow enough food to survive.
Until food insecurity is properly addressed, outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, anthrax, TB and malaria will continue to claim lives.
HIV: The high prevalence of HIV - an incredible 13.7% of the population - is a key barrier to development. 70% of the population rely on farming for their livelihoods, but HIV-related illnesses prevent them from growing the harvest they need. Zimbabwe has the highest rate of HIV orphans in the world, with one in four children having lost one of both parents to AIDS.
Our work
Christian Aid started working in Zimbabwe in 1980, and most of our work is concentrated in the drought-prone Matabeleland South region. We also work with partners and networks who cover the entire country.
One of our key strengths is the strong relationships we have with our church partners who focus on a range of issues from food security and nutrition, to HIV, health and gender equality.
The importance of good governance lies at the centre of our programme with partners working to build the capacity of poor communities to demand good and accountable leadership, including access to essential services.
These partners are also striving to do their part in building a peaceful Zimbabwe and to reconcile communities scarred by previous politically motivated conflict..
Our partners
Zimbabwe Project Trust (ZimPro) is one of five Christian Aid partners teaching conservation farming methods to poor farmers. Conservation farming techniques mean that farmers can grow more food on small plots of land using the limited natural resources available to them. Farmers who practice these methods report that the amount they harvest doubles, trebles and even quadruples, the more they improve.
Zimbabwe Project Trust (ZimPro) and Dabane Trust are piloting new ways of impacting on food security that strengthen local economies and protect dignity. With Christian Aid’s support, ZimPro and Dabane have introduced a new electronic and paper system in the areas they cover.
People are allocated paper or electronic vouchers, which they take to accredited dealers and use to purchase what they need. As a result, there is no stigma attached by others in the community to people receiving assistance.
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) was conceived shortly after 2000 by a group of Churches and NGOs working or interested in human rights and peace-building initiatives. In particular ZPP seeks to monitor and document incidents of human rights violations and politically motivated violence.
ZPP’s trusted community monitors send sms messages to a central database in order to keep up-to-the-minute records of cases of assault, intimidation and harassment.
Habakkuk Trust helps the most vulnerable people to have a voice in the way they are governed and to improve their own situations. The Trust carefully identifies, organises and works with community groups and trains them in their rights, responsibilities and duties.
The groups are also trained on how they can work better with their local leadership to bring solutions to the problems they face. Habakkuk Trust, with other partners has been working hard to ensure that the constitution-making process remains transparent, free from intimidation and truly representative of the Zimbabwean people.
Habakkuk Trust website >
More about Zimbabwe
What you can do to help...
