Lubimbi Women: Gwayi-Shangani Resettlement Conditions Raise Concerns

• Lubimbi women are demanding essential services like water, schools, and clinics be established at the Nakanono resettlement site before their relocation for the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project.
• Concerns were raised during a community meeting, highlighting that women, responsible for household duties, would face increased burdens if relocated without adequate infrastructure.
• Villagers are also seeking fair compensation for existing homes, construction of new housing, and economic opportunities, including jobs and income-generating projects for women.
• The Gwayi-Shangani Planning Area Master Plan, dated May 2026, identifies displacement as an impact but faces specific demands for pre-relocation provisions from the affected community.

The specific demands from the Lubimbi women regarding water, education, housing, and economic opportunities underscore the critical need for comprehensive pre-relocation services and adequate compensation.

A recent community engagement meeting in Zimbabwe brought to light significant concerns from women in Lubimbi regarding their impending relocation due to the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project. Hosted by the Zimbabwe Resilience Network in partnership with Basilwizi Trust, with support from ActionAid Zimbabwe, the gathering aimed to discuss the Gwayi-Shangani Planning Area Master Plan with local villagers. The central apprehension articulated by the women was that moving their families to Nakanono, the designated resettlement area, without sufficient services would drastically increase their daily burdens.

The Gwayi-Shangani Planning Area Master Plan, developed by the Department of Spatial Planning and Development in Matabeleland North and dated May 2026, explicitly acknowledges displacement and relocation as potential consequences of development within the planning area. While the plan does not specify the exact number of women facing displacement, it notes that Ward 20 in Binga, which includes the affected community, has a total population of 5,163 residents, with 2,850 identified as women. The women underscored that their traditional roles, which heavily involve fetching water, caring for children, and managing households, would be severely impacted by inadequate infrastructure at the new site.

Villagers, including Lucia Mupande, voiced profound worries about the practicalities of resettlement. Mupande highlighted that women would disproportionately bear the brunt of relocation if new homes were situated far from essential water sources. She described the arduous task of fetching water over long distances, potentially exceeding 20 kilometers, especially while simultaneously carrying young children. Furthermore, she pointed out that water access is crucial even for the construction of new homes, as it is needed for moulding building materials. The women's primary demand regarding water is for sources to be established in close proximity to households *before* any relocation takes place.

Beyond immediate water needs, the Lubimbi compensation demands extend to broader community welfare and economic opportunities. Mupande advocated for local communities, particularly children from affected families, to be prioritized for employment generated by the Gwayi-Shangani Dam. She also called for the establishment of income-generating projects specifically for women in the affected areas, aiming to foster self-empowerment. Another villager, Vivian Nyathi, reinforced these calls, insisting that affected families must receive adequate compensation for their existing homes and that decent replacement housing, along with vital infrastructure like a dip tank, clinic, and schools, be constructed at the new settlement before relocation. Nyathi emphasized that women in Lubimbi are accustomed to fetching water from nearby sources and should not be forced to endure long treks for this basic necessity in their new environment. She also stressed the importance of schools being built close to the new settlements, as children are not accustomed to extensive commutes for education. These demands highlight critical aspects of women's rights infrastructure projects ZW.

The Gwayi-Shangani Planning Area Master Plan, prepared by the Department of Spatial Planning and Development in Matabeleland North, serves as the foundational document for the resettlement process. Its acknowledgment of displacement and relocation as key impacts underscores the necessity for careful planning and adherence to Zimbabwe community resettlement law. The concerns raised by the Lubimbi women directly challenge the adequacy of the proposed Nakanono resettlement plan, particularly regarding the provision of essential services and infrastructure.

The May 2026 plan, while identifying potential impacts, now faces specific, detailed demands from the affected population that require robust consideration. The community's insistence on pre-relocation provision of water, schools, and clinics, alongside fair compensation and economic benefits, aligns with international best practices for involuntary resettlement. The detailed spatial planning for Matabeleland North must integrate these human-centric requirements to ensure the Gwayi-Shangani Dam relocation rights of the affected population are upheld. The current situation highlights a gap between the broad recognition of displacement in the master plan and the concrete, gender-specific provisions needed on the ground to ensure a just transition for the Lubimbi women and their families.

This situation flags significant human rights and social impact risks for all entities involved in large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the Gwayi-Shangani Dam. The specific demands from the Lubimbi women regarding water, education, housing, and economic opportunities underscore the critical need for comprehensive pre-relocation services and adequate compensation. Failure to address these concerns proactively can lead to prolonged disputes, legal challenges, and severe social disruption, particularly impacting vulnerable groups.

The gendered nature of the concerns, where women anticipate an increased workload due to their primary roles in household management and childcare, is a crucial element for project developers and legal advisors to consider. It highlights that impact assessments must go beyond general population figures to understand the specific burdens and needs of different demographic groups. Ensuring that the Gwayi-Shangani Dam relocation rights are fully respected, and that the Nakanono resettlement plan includes robust provisions for community well-being and economic integration, is paramount for the ethical and sustainable execution of such major infrastructure developments in Zimbabwe.

This article flags significant human rights and social impact risks for companies and government entities involved in large-scale infrastructure projects like the Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Zimbabwe. Lawyers advising on project finance, environmental and social governance (ESG), or human rights compliance should note the community's specific demands for pre-relocation services, adequate compensation, and economic benefits, as these are critical areas for legal due diligence and potential litigation if not met. It also highlights the gendered impact of resettlement, which is crucial for comprehensive impact assessments.

Source: Original reporting via local news