Water and Africa 
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| Title: | Dry Fields and Spirits in Trees: A Social Analysis of Irrigation Intervention in Nyamaropa Communal Area, Zimbabwe |
| Authors: | Magadlela, Dumisani Hebinck, Paul |
| Year: | 1995 |
| Periodical: | Zambezia (ISSN 0379-0622) |
| Volume: | 22 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Pages: | 43-62 |
| Language: | English |
| Notes: | biblio. refs., ills. |
| Geographic terms: | Zimbabwe Southern Africa |
| Subjects: | irrigation Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Development and Technology Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) sociology Social conflict Nyamaropa (Zimbabwe) Social participation |
| External link: | https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA03790622_574 |
| Abstract: | The Nyamaropa irrigation scheme was started in the late 1950s and was largely populated by immigrant farmers from other areas in Zimbabwe. The majority of the locals rejected the idea of irrigating and only a few of them joined the scheme. Although the scheme has had some success it has also created a number of conflicts. These centre on the issue of water distribution and access to water. Expansion of the scheme to give more dryland farmers access to irrigated plots and the introduction of a block system divide the irrigation community into two conflicting camps, headed by two different types of local leadership, underpinned by a clash between local Barwe-Tonga traditional beliefs and the Christian religious values of the newcomers. The headman and his followers, mostly dryland farmers, believe that the shortage of rain is a result of misunderstandings between the people and their spiritual realm. Irrigators, on the other hand, believe that their water problems are mainly caused by incompetent management. The water problem is compounded by the temporary appropriation of land by businessmen and local dryland farmers gaining access to the scheme. In exploring these issues, the authors analyse the meaning of the distinction between locals and newcomers and between dryland farmers and irrigators and the way it is used in particular negotiations and specific situations. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. |
