The Tokwe-Mukosi Dam Disaster, forced relocations and effects on livelihoods in Chingwizi, Zimbabwe

M.A.Abstract: Resettlement can sometimes be regarded as unavoidable in contexts where people’s lives are in danger or environmental conditions become hazardous. While people may mildly resist being moved initially, it appears that the real tensions emerge at the latter stages of implementation. The decision by the government of Zimbabwe to relocate families after a dam flooding disaster at Tokwe was met with criticism as the move worsened the situation of most relocated families who claim that the government disregarded their needs. The current study represents an attempt to assess how relocation impacted the livelihoods of the families at Chingwizi. It explores both negative and positive impacts of forced relocation. The results of this study reveal a failed relocation strategy by the government of Zimbabwe. Although there is some element of positive spill-over for a few, the overall results show that people’s access to assets necessary for livelihoods, were compromised after relocation. The study concludes that, if relocations are to succeed, the government must be inclusive and take cognisance of the participation of the local people. Furthermore, people’s right to compensation have to be considered as it contributes towards the resilience of the affected families. Having this in place can facilitate the access to assets which people rely on for survival. The study captures the voices of affected people, reflects on social impact assessment as a tool, and offers recommendations for intervention and further study. A qualitative methodology in the form of semi-structured interviews was used to gather the participants’ experiences