Foreign funded poverty reduction programmes in rural areas: local alternatives for Murewa district, ward 10, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Zimbabwe has in the past implemented multiple foreign funded poverty reduction programmes in a bid to reduce poverty in rural areas. Despite the positives recorded, these programmes have not done much to increase the growth of locally designed and driven interventions in these areas. Not much is known in terms of local opportunities that can be pursued in these rural areas despite the urgent need to explore local resource endowments to empower local communities. This study therefore sought to establish other alternatives that can be employed to reduce poverty in rural communities through qualitative research. The study utilised a case study design guided by a semi-structured interview schedule to generate data through indepth interviews with participants purposively selected. The data was thematically analysed through deductive identification of themes emerging from the data. Alternatives identified by the study participants include irrigation schemes, devolution, value addition and strengthening inside-out rural development approaches. Informed by these observations, the study concluded that development actors must promote joint efforts with local communities to identify development goals, pathways to achieve them and empower indigents to champion their own progression. A paradigm shift is recommended to help local communities to help themselves and avoid over-reliance on external help.