Comprehensive Community Initiative: Evaluation of a transformation system in Mhakwe community in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article explores community perceptions on implementation and impacts of the Mhakwe Comprehensive Community Initiative (CCI) in Mhakwe Ward, Zimbabwe. A mixed-methods research methodology was adopted. Qualitative data were collected from action research, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a random cluster sample, and were analysed using SPSS and Stata with binomial logistic regression to determine factors significantly affecting selected variables and the chi-square test for independence to determine association between variables. Thematic reviews were utilised to analyse qualitative data. Community perceptions on issues affecting multi-stakeholder collaborations, ownership, and control, internal and external enabling factors were explored. The article concludes that leadership development, strengthening family institutions, enhancing ownership and building capacity of local institutions to coordinate such initiatives are fundamental building blocks for CCIs. This article recommends CCIs as a practical framework for empowering marginalised communities.

Keywords:

• Comprehensive Community Initiative
• Mhakwe
• perceptions
• mixed-methods research
• Zimbabwe

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

⁴Examples include the Vibrant Communities Program that works with 12 municipalities and the Action for Neighbourhood Change in Canada (Makhoul & Leviton-Reid, 2010).

⁵These were coordinated by the Africa Programs and operated in eight southern African countries from 2005 to 2010, before the programme was wound up.

⁶These figures are based on the consumption expenditure approach that uses per-capita consumption expenditure indices combined with household characteristics such as asset ownership and access to social services (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, 2013).

⁷The questionnaire covered areas including socio-economic and demographic characteristics, asset ownership, engagement with NGOs, perceptions on effectiveness and perceived impacts of the Mhakwe CCI, and perceived drivers for local development.

⁸Analysis focused on recurring themes from group consensus, identification of most noteworthy quotes and unexpected and controversial findings. Notes were compared with transcriptions from audio-recordings to ensure reliability.