This book examines the City of Bulawayo's struggles with the environment from 1894 to 2008 given its location in the perennially semi-arid region of south-western Zimbabwe. It focuses on a case-study of Makokoba and explores the history of its African residents and their struggles over access to water during this period from a 'sustainable livelihoods' perspective - one which emphasises that human security and environmental sustainability are intertwined. It argues that water scarcity in Bulawayo was a result of both biophysical conditions and man-made policies.