Livelihood change in rural Zimbabwe over 20 years: insights from wealth ranking

This paper explores the changing livelihood strategies among a group of households in southern Zimbabwe across 20 years. The study uses a ‘wealth ranking’ method to examine livelihood change, combined with survey approaches and in-depth interviews. The sample households studied in the 1986-87 were all traced two decades on and transitions in ranks were explored. In addition, a set of ‘secondary households’, offshoots of the original ‘primary households’, were also traced revealing important changes in livelihood opportunity for the next generation. The key dynamics of livelihood transitions over this period are highlighted, along with the implications these have for rural development policy.