Locating the rural women empowerment outcomes in the growth point policy thrust of Zimbabwe since 1980

Abstract

Globally, issues of rural women empowerment and women’s agency, have been directly and indirectly addressed through various development and gender policies that include the growth point strategy. However, most countries abandoned the growth point strategy to pursue other approaches that appeared to be better citing its ineffectiveness. In Africa, it was largely adopted by several countries in trying to redress the rural-urban divide created by the colonial government’s residual legacy of unequal development along racial lines. Zimbabwe adopted and implemented the policy in 1980, however, the growth points face stagnation hence the impact has been adverse for women in the rural economy. This study critically explored rural women's socio-economic empowerment outcomes through the growth point policy in Zimbabwe, at Tsholotsho Growth Point. The study adopted the qualitative research paradigm and data were generated using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The target population comprised women living in the central growth point and from the hinterlands (villages) while key informants represented government departments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) located in the district and an independent analyst of the growth point policy in Zimbabwe. A sample of 30 made up of 20 women and 10 key informants was purposively identified. Data were analysed thematically, and the study found out that women empowerment outcomes through the growth point policy had been witnessed and experienced since it was implemented. The study also found that the outcomes were based on the interventions by the growth point policy that included improved service delivery that benefits women. It further revealed that through the growth point, women have been empowered to participate more in matters that concern them through Public Private Dialogue (PPD) platforms. It was also noted that the constraints of the growth point had negative impacts thereby rendering women's livelihoods unsustainable. The study concluded that women empowerment outcomes through the growth point were weak due to gender inequalities, lack of participation and patriarchal tendencies. The study, therefore called for the re-engineering of the growth point policy that differentiates between women and men. In the same vein, the study recommended the need for incorporating the issues that confront women in the rural economy. It is also recommended that future research be undertaken to investigate more on how best the growth point can promote women's empowerment guided by the Women Empowerment Theory (Sarah Longwe Framework), the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and other Gender and development frameworks