Re-Imagining Women‘s Livelihoods: Pathways to Equity, Sustainability and Resilience in Bindura, Mashonaland Central

Abstract

This paper investigates the multifaceted ways women in Bindura, Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe, are actively redefining and restructuring their livelihoods as a direct response to intensifying socio-economic, environmental, and political pressures. The study shifts focus from mere survival to exploring alternative pathways that lead toward greater equity, sustainability, and resilience within their community. Central to this inquiry is an analysis of how deeply ingrained structural constraints and persistent gendered norms critically intersect with emergent opportunities for entrepreneurial innovation and empowerment. To gain a holistic understanding of this complex dynamic, the research employed a Systems Theory approach, viewing women's economic activities not in isolation but as deeply embedded within broader institutional, political, and ecological systems. The methodology relied on rich, in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 women engaged in various informal economic activities in the region. The core findings highlight significant tensions between traditional, often subsistence-based, livelihood strategies and the necessity of adopting new, adaptive, and market-responsive practices. These tensions manifest in challenges such as securing land, accessing capital, and dealing with arbitrary regulatory enforcement. Ultimately, the paper argues that while women demonstrate remarkable ingenuity in carving out economic spaces, sustainable change requires more than individual effort. It concludes by offering specific, actionable recommendations aimed at developing inclusive policy frameworks, strengthening local resource distribution, and establishing robust community-based support systems that can effectively recognize and foster women's agency and resilience.