Threats to Climate Adaptation and Household Food Security in Semi-Arid Zimbabwe: Policy Insights from Mwenezi District

The research examined threats to climate change adaptation for household food security and its implications on policies among the rural people in the semi-arid region of Mwenezi district, Zimbabwe. Despite climate change adaptation efforts, statistics indicate that the benefits of climate change adaptation in Mwenezi district are isolated. The study assimilated a phenomenological research design in which data was gathered from a total of 33 respondents identified through purposive sampling from a population of 371 households. The researchers triangulated data collection. Focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews, key informant interviews and field observations were used to collect data. The study is guided by the vulnerability framework. Corruption, food aid, visibility priority by NGOs, over reliance on central government management interventions, lack of contingency planning by central government, mal-adaptation practices and lack of capacity building for the locals stifled the community’s ability to adapt. Researchers advocated for the strengthening of governance and accountability issues, enhancing community capacity and engagement, improvement of agricultural practices such as distribution of agricultural inputs matching agro-ecological zones. The study also recommended the reformation of livestock management, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, the introduction of a Climate Change Act to regulate climate issues and heightened climate change resilience programs in fighting rural poverty to attain sustainable household food security.