Community-based development : a study of nhimbe practice in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The researcher was most motivated to undertake this study by his own experience in nhimbe practice and community-based development (CBD) work. A variety of factors contribute to the success or failure of CBD initiatives in rural communities and these include knowledge, skills, community culture or values, type of project, internally or externally driven, financial and material resources. To date, at least in the literature, very little evidence is available to inform development agencies about the relationships among these factors and their effects to CBD in specific communities. Furthermore, not much is known about the contributions community-based or traditional practices like nhimbe make to community development. Similar practices in other parts of the world were reviewed in this study: Study Circle in Sweden; Milpa in Mexico; Harambee in Kenya; and Chilimba in Zambia. This was a qualitative study and the purpose was to establish what nhimbe is and how it contributes to the economic and social life of the three communities studied in Zimbabwe namely Gambiza, Musikavanhu, and Tsholotsho. Oral tradition, interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations were among the data collection methods used to get views from key informants, traditional leaders, and members of the communities. A total of 158 respondents participated in the study across the three communities studied.

The study revealed that nhimbe is a community internal mechanism people use to assist each other on emergency livelihoods and long-term planning development initiatives alike. In other words, it is an effective practice that is hinged on social capital found among members of the community particularly inter-household bonds, reciprocity, trust, solidarity, and peace. Nhimbe is couched in the culture and socio-moral fibre of the community. The study discovered that, for the most part, the practice contributes to the social and economic life of communities. Additionally, the study findings showed that there is a strong relationship between the practice and the cultural framework of a community in which it is practiced. Apart from social capital, other theories that manifest in the nhimbe practice include the people-centered approach and appreciative inquiry. On the whole, the study achieved its purpose and the findings presented were adequate to resolve the research problem, propositions, and questions. A nhimbe related theory was developed from the study called Organised Community Cultural Capital for Development (OCCCD). Some of the factors for a strong nhimbe in a community include homogeneity, strong inter-household bonds, a community is far away from a town, shared community values, and active role of traditional leaders in community development. For a weak nhimbe they are heterogeneity, weak inter-household bonds, less traditional leaders' involvement and close to an urban center.