Livelihoods and survival strategies of Hwange Colliery Company Limited workers.

Abstract

This study documents the livelihoods and survival strategies of HCCL workers as well as the challenges they face in accessing these livelihoods. It is based on a qualitative inquiry and makes use of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) to analyse and guide the study. The study made use of life history interviews, non-participant observation and key informant interviews to source out the information. The study revealed to lengths on how the workers are surviving from day to day basis despite the fact that they have not been receiving salaries for 42 months to date. Apart from their salary which they are not getting, HCCL workers have devised ways of surviving in the waning economy. These strategies range from vending, practicing urban agriculture, renting out rooms, cross border trading, barter trade, reliance on family, relatives and social ties, remittances, government support, piece jobs and part time jobs as well as other informal activities they are engaged in. The major challenges that the workers and their families have are that of money, access to credit and loans, poor housing services, poor medication and health services and lack of financial resources to start their own businesses and sustain their families. The study also revealed that through the SLA, it is seen that the five capital assets are important and play a big role in determining the livelihoods of the workers. These capitals work interchangeably and are not independent of each other. The study also revealed that the rural urban linkages that exist are also important in accessing livelihoods for the workers. It was also culminated that the HCCL workers cannot leave the company because of fear of being stranded, work benefits as well as an anticipation and hope for change. The study concluded that the workers have somehow managed to survive without non-payment of salaries for a long time because of the various survival strategies they have employed and it is imperative to note that these livelihood strategies are short term based and can only help deal with household poverty and secure food for a household but not in the long run. These livelihood and survival strategies mainly center on food security at household level and do not address poverty problems in the long run.