Abstract
Households in urban communities have been severely affected by the challenges of food insecurity. Food accessibility and affordability in these households has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is more pronounced in urban informal households where the residents have no access to employment. This paper reports on the findings from a study carried out in Killarney squatter camp in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe). The residents interviewed indicated that their livelihoods were undermined by the lockdown measures outlawing free movement of people to contain the disease outbreak. This disrupted the movement of corn, vegetables and other supplies, important food items contributing significantly towards food insecurity. Using the human security framework as a theoretical base and guideline for the study, the findings demonstrate that individuals and communities in informal settlements were negatively affected by the policy pronouncements made to contain the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bred human insecurity for people already marooned by the socioeconomic challenges bedeviling the Zimbabwean economy. This study foregrounds the need to cushion such underprivileged communities. This can only be guaranteed through a deliberate policy prescription by the government as well as a multi-stakeholder approach to address the food insecurity challenges.