202 BOOK REVIEWSWe need a fuller and more thorough investigation into the sociology ofShona sculpture. If this book provokes such a study, it will have served afurther useful purpose.University of Zimbabwe M. F. C. BOURDILLONThe Gender Dimensions of Urban Poverty: The Case of Dzivarasekwa ByNeddy R. Matshalaga, Harare, Institute of Development Studies, Universityof Zimbabwe, 1997, 50 pp.The Gender Dimensions of Urban Poverty: The Case of Tafara By NeddyR. Matshalaga, Harare, Institute of Development Studies, University ofZimbabwe, 1997, 51 pp.These two short pieces provide basic data on household economies intwo of Harare's high-density suburbs. Each is based largely on a survey of320 households. Although there was an attempt to randomise the samples,it is not clear how the population, including those living in rented shacks,was established. The survey comprised a questionnaire that includedsuch topics as household size, income, education, use of health facilities,food and accommodation. There were also questions on perceptions ofpoverty and its causes. The survey data were supported by informalinterviews and discussions, from which some short extracts appear. Butthere is no mention of whether or how verbal answers to questions wereverified in any of the cases.The reports largely present descriptive statistics of the results of thesurveys, paying particular attention to differences according to the genderof the household heads but with little attention to further analysis. Thesample in Tafara is on average much poorer and less educated than that inDzivarasekwa. As an indication of poverty in Tafara we find over half thechildren of school-going age are out of school, which is disturbing for thelong-term future of the community. Around 60 per cent of men claim not tobe getting enough food in both samples (slightly fewer in Tafara); 65 percent of women in Dzivarasekwa make the same claim as do 75 per cent inTafara. The author does not offer a systematic comparison of thecommunities nor an analysis of the differences.Although the reports are limited in both data and analysis, it is usefulto have such descriptive data on the quality of life in high-density suburbsof Harare. It is right that we should be disturbed by such data.University of Zimbabwe PROFESSOR M. F. C. BOURDILLON