Water access policies: probing water access policies and positive peace in a Zimbabwean rural setting.
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Date
2016
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Abstract
This study sought to establish the correlation between water access policies, informal practices
and positive peace. The study was carried out in Village One, Ward 11, Mhondoro-Ngezi
District in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. It was grounded in qualitative research
using the Sequential Mixed Model method. Stratified purposive sampling was used to interview
20 Village One residents (10 men and 10 women) – from a total of 203 adults – to achieve a
measure of gender balance and to make responses more representative. The study also
interviewed 5 key informants from the Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council. Participant
observations, documentary analysis and questionnaires were administered to provide
triangulation of data. Deductive content analysis and thematic analysis was used to discuss
findings. The study used the theory of positive and negative peace, common property resource
management theory and conflict transformation theory. Content analysis of texts revealed that
Zimbabwe’s water policy and related laws protect the rights of the citizens, encourage
participation in their formulation but the provisions are hardly implemented. Findings revealed
that participants understand some aspects of positive peace in relation to water access. Informal
practices also shape people’s access to water through the effective use of local rules, although
most of these rules are now being disregarded. Findings showed that there remains a gap
between water supply and access. Findings also revealed that the use of informal practices is
more effective to water access for productive uses, while formal water institutions can usefully
work towards drilling of boreholes. Participants lack information about water policies and
institutions, as communications are always confined to political leaders and government
technocrats.
Description
Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2016.
Keywords
Theses--Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies.