B. Matabeleland South: Findings of food security survey, October 2011 1. Methodology Rural wards 13 and 14 of Gwanda Central, which have been shown to be areas of particular vulnerability and food shortages in previous years, were selected for a survey. Seven villages from these two wards were included in the survey on a random basis. Five homesteads per village were randomly chosen from these seven villages, on the basis of approximately every fourth household, until the target number had been reached.44 The living standards of 258 people are included in these findings. Semi structured interviews were conducted, each lasting several hours and including a visual inspection of the homestead, fields and livestock of those interviewed. This process was both quantitative and qualitative, involving both specific questions and more general discussion about the socio economic experiences and concerns of the householders. The aim was to establish the availability of food and water to each household, to detail current family eating patterns, and how and where food is being sourced. Also recorded was the availability of grazing and water to livestock, and changes in livestock ownership since the beginning of 2011. People’s general evaluation of their situation comparative to their neighbours’ and their expectations for the future, including the coming growing season, were also noted. 2. October follow up The survey was initially conducted during the week of 19 September 2011. After the first round of questioning, the households that were considered to be most at risk, were revisited a month later and a second evaluation was conducted, to assess if the food, water and livestock situation had deteriorated ahead of the rains, and to assess whether the humanitarian response had changed. The situation on the ground had predictably worsened in the course of the month, with water having dried up in the nearest river‐bed access points, and families having to travel further each day to get water. Grazing had worsened ‐ although so few families have much in the way of livestock that this was not a factor for everyone. And hunger had increased, with several of the families referred to in the second interview as being lethargic and visibly weak, to the extent that they were lying indoors during the daytime and not completing household tasks. 3. Summary of findings i. Demographics 74% of household interviewees were women 44 Homesteads are not organized in neat rows in rural Gwanda, so the selection process was approximately every fourth homestead within groups of homesteads rather than rows, which resulted in four extra homesteads being included. 22