An analysis on the effects of Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 national lockdown on household food security and livelihoods: A case of ward 2, Beitbridge district

Abstract

The effects of the COVID-19 crisis on food systems are being felt around the world. Many governments have enforced country-wide lockdowns to reduce the spread of this virus. However, there are huge concerns on the impact of lockdowns on livelihoods including food and nutrition security for many countries including Zimbabwe. A study was carried out whose main objective was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 national lockdown on household food security and livelihoods in Ward 2 of Beitbridge district. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study and both primary data and secondary data were used and these were collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions as well as from published literature such as journals, text books and newspaper extracts. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and Microsoft Excel package. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics whereas quantitative data were analyzed using t-tests, frequencies and multinomial regression modelling. Food accessibility constraints imposed by the lockdown and household incomes were analysed using independent samples t-tests, descriptive statistics and percentages. A 5point Likert scale was used to rank the means of the constraints affecting food accessibility in the study. From the findings of the study, only 18% of the respondents were food secure while, on the other extreme end, about 69% were severely food insecure during the Covid-19 lockdown period. A paired t-test comparison of the HFIES and FCS across the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods shows that there was a statistically significant decrease in the accessibility of food during the lockdown period (HFIES: p value = 0.00021 < 0.05 and FCS: p value = 0.000212 < 0.05). Movement restrictions (rank mean =4.3) were ranked as the major food access constraint amongst respondents with high food prices, income decrease, food scarcity, floods and drought as the other significant constraints in that order. Household income was also greatly affected by the COVID-19 lockdown imposition. The survey results indicate a decrease in income between the pre-COVID and the COVID period. At ZAR1525.00, the average household income decrease was significant (p = 0.00001 < 0.05). Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the factors that affect household food access under the lockdown period. Household head education level (p=0.018), household income (p=0.03), movement restrictions (p=0.008) and household size (p=0.04) had statistically significant effects on the food security status of the respondents. It was recommended that the strict enforcement of lockdowns by governments should simultaneously be accompanied by food assistance and cash transfer social safety programs especially targeted at the poor and marginalised households in order to safeguard their income and food security. A Covid-19 prevention strategy that completely relies on movement control hinders the efficiency of the food system. Therefore, there is great need to come up with alternative measures that allow some movement while maintaining the safety of the people. Keywords: (Covid-19, food security, nutrition, lockdown, livelihoods)