Mukumbura is a village in the Mt Darwin District, located in the Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe, Southern Africa. Effects of War Protection Villages Arising out of the war situation was the strategic resettlement of almost a quarter of a million African people in Rhodesia into protected/consolidated villages which dictated many aspects of people's lives. This resettlement was called Operation Overload. By the end of 1974, multiple protected and consolidated villages were set up, and this included the Mukumbura Protected Village that had three closely knit fenced-on camps, holding around 4,300 people. Mukumbura was chosen as a prime exemplar and regarded as showpieces by the Government to show to journalists and other important visitors how the Government has implemented and maintained protection for its people. Some of the local women were also trained by the administration as community workers in order to teach simple domestic skills to the women in these protected villages. Demographic As a consequence of the landmines and the danger that they present when encountered, many people are living in a constant fear that is breeding uncertainties in the future of those settled in the area. This safety issue that is impacting individuals, as well as prospects for development, is pushing residents to move and settle in safer places, such as Rushinga and Mutare communal areas, that are becoming increasingly densely populated due to this. Naturally, Mukumbura has faced a growing underpopulation as a landmine-infested area. Geography The area of Mukumbura and characterised with a semi-arid climate with rainfall amounting to less than 650 mm. The low rainfall combined with the high temperatures (over 25 degrees Celsius) means that there is a limited amount of surface water resources even throughout normal seasons. The land itself is primarily flat, locally dissected and stony. It contains the active floodplain of the Mukumbura river and the slightly higher situated fluvial terrace. The soil is mainly residual, well drained, shallow to moderately deep fine grained sandloams over brown to yellowish red sand. Economy As a remote and marginal area of Zimbabwe, it is evident that Mukumbura is categorised as "poverty stricken and limited in socio-economic growth”. Acting as the border crossing between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, women usually take advantage of their proximity to Mozambique to acquire second hand goods from Mozambique at a lower price and resell them in Zimbabwe at a higher price that then allows them to maximise profits.