A communal farmer in Tsholotsho in rural southwest Zimbabwe grows cowpeas, maize, millet and groundnuts. Through a DFID funded livelihoods programme providing seed and teaching conservation farming techniques, she can support her household of eight people.
An unstable political settlement lies at the heart of Zimbabwe’s problems. Following a decade of economic collapse, recent recovery has not been matched by political progress.
Top priorities
- Helping prepare the ground for credible elections which are essential if Zimbabwe is to benefit from a stable, accountable government which governs in the interests of all its people
- Creating more economic opportunities for the people of Zimbabwe
- Improving girls’ education, where our plan has the potential to transform a whole generation
- Improving maternal and child health and water and sanitation
We will spend an average of £88 million per year in Zimbabwe until 2015. But if political transition takes place during the period we will significantly scale up the development programme to help a reforming government.