3 - Exploring Local Conceptions of Poverty, Wealth and Well-Being: Field Evidence from Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe
Corresponding Author(s) : Oliver Mtapuri
Africa Development,
Vol. 33 No. 3 (2008): Africa Development
Abstract
This article presents the conceptions of poverty by the poor in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. It seeks to broaden the discussion of poverty around the definition of the poor from the perspective of the poor. A cause-effect frame- work for poverty analysis is proposed, as well as the introduction of the notion of ‘enclavity’ within a family in poverty discourse. These are the two primary contri- butions of this paper. The research suggests that, due to deepening poverty, people create enclaves around husband/wife relationships as a new form of resil- ience/collectivity. While the poor suffer from a lack of assets, ethics and networks breakdown as a result of poverty. The results suggest, as elsewhere, that poverty is multifaceted, thus driving to some confluence of conception.
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- Achebe, C., Goran, H., Achola, P. O. and Magadza, C., 1990, ‘Beyond Hunger in Africa’, Heinemann Kenya Limited, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Bird, K and Shepherd, A., 2003, ‘Livelihoods and Chronic Poverty in Semi-arid Zimbabwe’. World Development, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 591–610.
- Desai, M and Anup, S., 1988, Oxford Economic Papers, Vol. 40, No. 3. pp. 505–522. Ellis, F., 2003, ‘Livelihoods and Poverty reduction in Malawi’, World Development, Vol. 31, No. 9, pp. 1495–1510.
- Goulet, D., 1979, ‘Strategies for Meeting Human Basic Needs’. in M. E. Jegen and C. K. Wilber, eds., Growth with Equity, Paulist Press, New York.
- Kapungwe, A., 2004, ‘Poverty in Zambia: Levels, patterns and trends’, Development Southern Africa, Vol. 21, No.3, pp 483–507, Carfax Publishing, Taylor and Francis Group.
- Madavo, C., 2001, ‘Serving the Poor in Africa’, in B. Deryke, B, R. Calderisi and C. Sigden, eds., Faith in Development, World Bank and Regnum Books International, Oxford, U.K. pp. 51–56.
- May, J, and Andy, N., 1997, ‘A Difficult Life: The Perceptions and Experience of Poverty in South Africa’, Social Indicators Research, 41:95–118, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.
- May, J., ed., 1998, ‘Poverty and Inequality in South Africa’. Report prepared for the Office of the Executive Deputy President and the Inter-ministerial Committee for Poverty and Inequality, Durban: Praxis.
- Mowafi, M. (n.d), The meaning and Measurement of Poverty: A Look into the Global Debate available at http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=mona+mowafi&meta. 10 March, 2007.
- Milanovic, B., 2003, ‘The Two Faces of Globalisation: Against Globalisation as We Know It’, World Development, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 667–683.
- Narayan, D., 2001, ‘Voices of the Poor’, in B. Deryke, R. Calderisi and C. Sigden, eds., Faith in Development, World Bank and Regnum Books International, Oxford, U.K. pp. 39–48.
- Nussbaum, M., 2000, ‘Women and Human Development’, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Robeyns, I., 2004, ‘Assessing global poverty and Inequality: Income, resources and capabilities’, available at http://ingridrobeyns.nl?Downloads/metaphil.pdf accessed 24 Oct, 2004.
- Saunders, P., 2004, ‘Towards a Credible Poverty Framework: From Income [poverty to Deprivation’. Social Policy Research Centre, Discussion paper No. 131.
- Shao, J., 2001, ‘Alleviating poverty in Africa’, in B. Deryke, R. Calderisi and C. Sigden eds., Faith in Development, World Bank and Regnum Books International, Oxford, U.K. pp. 19–30.
- Silverman, D., 2000, ‘Doing Qualitative Research, A Practical Handbook’, London: Sage Publications.
- Streeten, P., 2000, Journal of Human Development, Vol. 1, No. 1, Carfax Publishing, Taylor and Francis Group, pp. 25– 48.
- White, H.; Jennifer, L; and Andrew, M., 2003, ‘Comparative Perspectives on Child Poverty: Review of poverty measures’, Journal of Human Development, Vol. 4, No. 3, Carfax Publishing, Taylor Francis Group, pp. 379–395.
- Woodhouse, P., 2004, ‘Local identities of poverty: poverty narratives in decentralized government and the role of poverty research in Uganda’, available at http://www.gprg.org/pubs/workingpapers/pdfs/gprg-wps-013.pdf . 9 March 2007.
- World Bank, 1994, Zambia Poverty Assessment, Volume V: Participatory Poverty Assessment, Africa Regional Office, Report No. 12985-ZA.
References
Achebe, C., Goran, H., Achola, P. O. and Magadza, C., 1990, ‘Beyond Hunger in Africa’, Heinemann Kenya Limited, Nairobi, Kenya.
Bird, K and Shepherd, A., 2003, ‘Livelihoods and Chronic Poverty in Semi-arid Zimbabwe’. World Development, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 591–610.
Desai, M and Anup, S., 1988, Oxford Economic Papers, Vol. 40, No. 3. pp. 505–522. Ellis, F., 2003, ‘Livelihoods and Poverty reduction in Malawi’, World Development, Vol. 31, No. 9, pp. 1495–1510.
Goulet, D., 1979, ‘Strategies for Meeting Human Basic Needs’. in M. E. Jegen and C. K. Wilber, eds., Growth with Equity, Paulist Press, New York.
Kapungwe, A., 2004, ‘Poverty in Zambia: Levels, patterns and trends’, Development Southern Africa, Vol. 21, No.3, pp 483–507, Carfax Publishing, Taylor and Francis Group.
Madavo, C., 2001, ‘Serving the Poor in Africa’, in B. Deryke, B, R. Calderisi and C. Sigden, eds., Faith in Development, World Bank and Regnum Books International, Oxford, U.K. pp. 51–56.
May, J, and Andy, N., 1997, ‘A Difficult Life: The Perceptions and Experience of Poverty in South Africa’, Social Indicators Research, 41:95–118, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.
May, J., ed., 1998, ‘Poverty and Inequality in South Africa’. Report prepared for the Office of the Executive Deputy President and the Inter-ministerial Committee for Poverty and Inequality, Durban: Praxis.
Mowafi, M. (n.d), The meaning and Measurement of Poverty: A Look into the Global Debate available at http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=mona+mowafi&meta. 10 March, 2007.
Milanovic, B., 2003, ‘The Two Faces of Globalisation: Against Globalisation as We Know It’, World Development, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 667–683.
Narayan, D., 2001, ‘Voices of the Poor’, in B. Deryke, R. Calderisi and C. Sigden, eds., Faith in Development, World Bank and Regnum Books International, Oxford, U.K. pp. 39–48.
Nussbaum, M., 2000, ‘Women and Human Development’, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Robeyns, I., 2004, ‘Assessing global poverty and Inequality: Income, resources and capabilities’, available at http://ingridrobeyns.nl?Downloads/metaphil.pdf accessed 24 Oct, 2004.
Saunders, P., 2004, ‘Towards a Credible Poverty Framework: From Income [poverty to Deprivation’. Social Policy Research Centre, Discussion paper No. 131.
Shao, J., 2001, ‘Alleviating poverty in Africa’, in B. Deryke, R. Calderisi and C. Sigden eds., Faith in Development, World Bank and Regnum Books International, Oxford, U.K. pp. 19–30.
Silverman, D., 2000, ‘Doing Qualitative Research, A Practical Handbook’, London: Sage Publications.
Streeten, P., 2000, Journal of Human Development, Vol. 1, No. 1, Carfax Publishing, Taylor and Francis Group, pp. 25– 48.
White, H.; Jennifer, L; and Andrew, M., 2003, ‘Comparative Perspectives on Child Poverty: Review of poverty measures’, Journal of Human Development, Vol. 4, No. 3, Carfax Publishing, Taylor Francis Group, pp. 379–395.
Woodhouse, P., 2004, ‘Local identities of poverty: poverty narratives in decentralized government and the role of poverty research in Uganda’, available at http://www.gprg.org/pubs/workingpapers/pdfs/gprg-wps-013.pdf . 9 March 2007.
World Bank, 1994, Zambia Poverty Assessment, Volume V: Participatory Poverty Assessment, Africa Regional Office, Report No. 12985-ZA.