The Role of Indigenous Shona Cultural Beliefs and Practices in the Conservation of the Environment

Karanga women’s utilisation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems on climate change adaptation and mitigation in Zimbabwe: Towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13)

“…Indigenous ways of adapting to and mitigating against climate change were one of such a body of knowledge which suffered unwarranted and unprecedented attack (Chanza & Mafongoya, 2017). The low performance in the agriculture sector, food insecurity and the high incidence of malnutrition amongst many Zimbabweans, is evidence that IKS were and are still not being taken seriously (Tatira, 2015;Siambombe, Mutale & Muzingili, 2018).…”

“…Nevertheless, we argue that indigenous agrarian systems and the management of climatic and weather conditions have, for many centuries, proved full-proof and resilient. Recent studies (Chitando, 2017;Tatira, 2015;Siambombe et al, 2018;Kamwendo, 2014;Muyambo, 2017) have illustrated that IKS are on a resurgence path. Indigenous communities in Africa are reverting to their tried and tested indigenous ways of addressing existential crises such as environmental degradation (Tatira, 2015), persistent droughts (Mawere & Awuah;Nyamekye, 2015), climate change (Chitando, 2017) and food security (Kamwendo, 2014).…”

“…Recent studies (Chitando, 2017;Tatira, 2015;Siambombe et al, 2018;Kamwendo, 2014;Muyambo, 2017) have illustrated that IKS are on a resurgence path. Indigenous communities in Africa are reverting to their tried and tested indigenous ways of addressing existential crises such as environmental degradation (Tatira, 2015), persistent droughts (Mawere & Awuah;Nyamekye, 2015), climate change (Chitando, 2017) and food security (Kamwendo, 2014). This resurgence has resulted in a lot of interest in IKS.…”