Abstract:
This paper argues a case for reducing urban poverty through fuel wood business in view of
the plight of load shading in Zimbabwe. Although the use of firewood is not a welcomed source of
power in urban areas, it emerged to be wide spreading fuel for domestic use. Electricity shortages
have made Zimbabweans opting for firewood for heating, cooking and other domestic chores to
cushion the times when electricity is off. Since the start of this sell of firewood, the viability of the
enterprise in poverty reduction has not been tested.
Firewood harvesting has caused untold environmental degradation in Masvingo urban and the
surroundings. Although this affected the ecology, it has created sound opportunities for urban poor who
are in transport business, hired to fetch firewood from the bush. The undeveloped commercial stands
are being turned into firewood wholesales. This has created entrepreneurial activities for urbanites that
had nothing to do. However, fuel wood trading would sustain urban livelihoods if it meets the strong
sustainability criteria of enhancing all the five capitals. Livelihood sustenance is linked to the resilience
or sensitivity of livelihood assets to change in socio-economic and political conditions rather than asset
per se. For, some assets are more resilient or less sensitive than others. Therefore enhanced
livelihood security should be assessed on the basis of the resilience of various livelihood assets and
improvements therein.
