Women empowerment through a comprehensive rural development programme in Muyexe Village, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) was implemented by the national government through the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in various areas of the country including Muyexe village. The CRDP implemented broad based-agrarian transformation focusing on community organization and mobilization as well as strategic investment in economic and social infrastructure. The programme proposed an approach that empowers and addresses the needs of the people, household, community and space. It is built on the premise that rural areas in the country have the potential to be developed in a way that generates jobs and economic opportunities, thus providing an alternative to the urban centers, and contributing to the reduction of rural-urban migration. Muyexe village has been one of the pilot areas in the country where the CRDP was implemented in 2009. The purpose of this study is to investigate the contribution of CRDP on women empowerment. The study adopted a mixed research method and quantitative data was collected from 92 households using a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data was also collected using an interview schedule from 13 key informants. The finding reveals that women have been provided with job opportunities and skills training as well as access to basic services through infrastructures established by the CRDP. The CRDP has contributed for enhancement of services and infrastructure in the village. It was found that women are still facing several challenges and there is much to be done to empower women in the village. This study suggests various strategic interventions to further empower women in Muyexe village.