Institutional mapping water sources and the politics of access in Ward 17 Gwanda Mzingwane Catchment

Historically, local institutions have been based on rules and norms that derived from hereditary chiefdoms and their governing of natural resources. These institutional structures and the values that underlie their establishment are currently persisting, albeit at times in modified forms, alongside of government sponsored regional and local governance structures, and donor-sponsored local organizations that are connected with various non-governmental organizations (NGO)-based development initiatives. This has resulted in a multi-layered structure of institutions and organizations, at times with unclear boundaries and overlapping mandates, which has come to represent a major challenge and opportunity to rural households’ access to and use of natural resources. This paper provides some highlights and inferences on how smallholder dry land farmers in the semi-arid tropics of Ward 17, Gwanda – Mzingwane Catchment, Zimbabwe, respond and adapt to the challenges, opportunities and realities of ‘water poverty’, and the growing need for integrated water resources management. The paper draws some inferences from the socio-economic survey 2 , the institutional and water (re)sources mapping exercise that was conducted in Ward 17, Gwanda in 2006. Transact walks were conducted to map water resources by walking through the whole ward identifying the quality and quantity of water (re) sources. Social maps were used to locate key social features and diagrammatic representation of key institutional interactions identifying and mapping access to social networks, services and infrastructure, and to relations between different social groups. Results from the study show that household decisions regarding the use of particular water sources for multiple uses largely depends on ownership and investment in water, the design of the water collection-point, and the rules/norms of access prescribed by the investor, funder and or founder of a particular water source. Results from the study also show that there is a very high density of institutions operating in Ward 17. Water access and use is governed by multiple institutions ranging from traditional leadership, project/donor laws and conditions, group/community norms/rules to conditions and norms laid out by the founder, funder and or champion of a particular water source. The conclusions drawn from the study indicate that water access and use rights for the majority of users in Ward 17 depend on water sources, and that, the history and nature of institutions governing such access and ‘user-ship’ is primarily based on ownership and investment (cash and labour) in infrastructure for pumping and maintaining the water (re) sources.