![Dr Eric Makombe]()
DAAD climapAfrica Postdoc Fellow
University of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Eric holds a Ph.D. (History) from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He has been an active academic since 2006, teaching postgraduate and undergraduate degree programs in economic and social history as well as development studies. His research focuses on societal change, specifically how rural and urban societies respond to state-led development policy strategies. Eric is also interested in urban history, livelihoods, and rural development. He is particularly interested in social histories in capturing broader African socio-economic histories. Some of his articles have appeared in journals such as Global Environment and Journal of Developing Societies.
Climate change expertise and interests
My knowledge contribution is largely in the area of climate change adaptation and rural livelihoods. I have authored/co-authored several publications such as an article on artisanal miners that appeared in a Global Environment special issue. I have also reviewed submitted journal articles in the fields of climate change, and environmental management. My current research project concerns historicised resource distribution and utilisation in the context of precarious rural livelihoods and climate change shocks in Chimanimani District, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe. The research is essentially based on primary source materials and extensive interview work, and other sources and qualitative case study and livelihoods approach.
Publications – (most recent)
E. K. Makombe, “‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’: The Coronavirus, Livelihoods, and Socioeconomic Upheaval in Harare’s High-Density Areas of Zimbabwe”, Journal of Developing Societies, Special Issue on Pandemics, Volume 37 Issue 3, (Sept. 2021) https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0169796X211030062
E. K. Makombe and T. Scarnecchia, “A Brief History of Urban Youths in Zimbabwe, the first 40 years” [2021] In Fending for Ourselves: Youth in Zimbabwe, 1980 – 2020. Rory Pilossof (ed.) Weaver Press, Harare.
B. Dhliwayo and E. K. Makombe, “Labour History of African Municipal Workers in Colonial Harare: 1945- 1979”, [2020] African Economic Review: Special Issue on the Social and Economic History of Zimbabwe.
Professional career interests
My motivation has always been to engage with scholarship and research that has social importance and significance. I am of the view that the challenges bedevilling Zimbabwean society, in particular, and African society at large need more historically nuanced research from an environmental social justice perspective if conflict over resources is to be prevented, managed and or transformed. I wish to contribute positively towards furthering the study of environmental histories while also bringing in practical real-life situations to the epistemic body of knowledge around Africa’s growth and development. In pursuing these goals my ultimate aim is to mould a student that is both an academic and pragmatic thinker and is able to react and respond to Africa’s challenges in a practical and systematic manner.
I participate at climapAfrica because
its broad agenda ties in neatly with my own professional career interests. ClimapAfrica also provides a unique and collegial environment for me to learn from global experts and colleagues from the African continent working on climate change and related subject matter.
