Water as a weapon : the history of water supply development in Nkayi district, Zimbabwe

Cleaver, F. (1995) Water as a weapon : the history of water supply development in Nkayi district, Zimbabwe. Environment & History, 1 (3). pp. 313-333.

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Abstract

This paper aruges that much historical and political analysis of Zimbabwe neglects a crucial resource: water. Using data from Nkayi district, evidence is presented to show how access to water rather than land has been the critical factor in its settlement and development. Water supplies were provided by the state during the first half of the century to support economic and fiscal policies and to render forced resettlement possible. During the years of struggle preceding and including the Liberation War, control over water was used as a weapon, and this remained a significant issue in the post-Independence period. Examples are offered of people's resistance to such control through non-cooperation in water development activities and the evolution of a culture of minimal water use strongly associated with concepts of solidarity and survival. The implications of this historic legacy for current development initiatives are discussed. -Author

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Environment & History
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3305
Subjects:
?? geography, planning and developmenthistoryenvironmental science (miscellaneous)arts and humanities (miscellaneous) ??
ID Code:
145130
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
07 Jul 2020 08:02
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 20:46