ActionAid International Southern Africa Partnership Programme (SAPP-Zimbabwe) Socio-demographic data of the sampled wards From the data generated from the survey, 88% (n = 20,689) of homesteads visited in the 66 wards were affected by the Operation in varying proportions and different ways. Demographic data for the general population is discussed below: Overall population sampled is 127,587 with an average household size of 5.5 - The majority of respondents household heads were male compared to female heads (47% and 53%, respectively); - The average age of the head of household is 40.7 years, with the youngest reported as 12 years old and the oldest as 90 years old. - Female household heads were slightly younger than male household heads, 40 and 41 years old, respectively. - Approximately 12% of homesteads visited are above 60 years (elderly headed) and only 1% (142) were headed by minors (commonly referred to as child headed, below 18 years). - Furthermore, children aged between 0 -17 years made up 71,691 members (or 56%) of the total population. The proportion of male and female children was roughly equal (51% vs. 49%) - Thirty one percent (31%) of interviewed households were hosting orphans, whilst a further 13% were hosting at least a chronically ill individual. A minority of 6% were hosting at least a mentally/physically challenged person. - As a measure of vulnerability, the analysis classified all households into five categories2. Most households interviewed fall in 3 categories (39%), whilst in 1 category: 12%; 2 categories: 36%; 3 categories: 39%; 4 categories: 8% and only 4% in the 5 categories. - Out of the 23,511 sampled homesteads, 22% of them reported that children were not attending school as a direct result of the Operation. - In the 22% of the respondents who claimed children were not attending school as a result of the operation, a total of 24,332 were recorded, representing 19% of the population. Children in female headed households seem to have been affected slightly more compared to male headed households with 25% versus 21%, respectively. Furthermore, worryingly, was the increased non attendance rates for households hosting orphans against those not hosting orphans (40% vs. 15%). Livelihoods The survey inquired on the primary source of income affected by the Operation since secondary information suggests that the Operation has had an adverse effect on livelihoods. - A majority (70%) of urban dwellers were engaged in informal trading3 prior to “Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order” from the sample. Hosting chronically ill persons, hosting orphans, hosting mentally/physically challenged persons, elderly headed households (plus 60 years) and child headed households. 3 Informal trading includes; flea market, tuck shop, vending, skilled/artisan, offering accommodation, and petty trade. 2 Zimbabwe Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order National Survey Report iv