By Johnson Siamachira
Harare, (New Ziana) — In the parched heart of Insiza district in Matabeleland South province, a lifeline has emerged amid the relentless grip of drought.
As climate change ravages the landscapes of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Project Trust (ZimPro), a local Non-Governmental Organisation, concluded a critical food distribution initiative in February this year, funded by the Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) Start Network.
The US$980 000.00 initiative has become a beacon of hope for thousands grappling with food insecurity in a district known for its harsh climate and unforgiving soils.
Over the last three months, ZimPro reached 20 828 individuals from 5 326 families with food aid across six wards in the district. The initiative delivered an essential food pack tailored for school-aged children, infants, lactating women, the elderly, vulnerable families and persons with disabilities. The timely intervention has transformed lives, offering not just sustenance, but dignity.
Zimbabwe’s 2023/24 agricultural season was marred by a devastating El Niño-induced drought that plunged communities into despair.
Insiza district, primarily located in agro-ecological regions 4 and 5, faces the harsh reality of low rainfall—between 450 to 650 millimeters annually—making it particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. The drought rendered the landscape barren; crop failures reached alarming levels, with government assessments indicating that 80 percent of crops failed to reach harvest.
The district ranked among the seven hardest-hit regions, and experienced acute water shortages, forcing women and girls to trek long distances in search of water. Livestock pastures were withered, leading to the heartbreaking loss of livestock that families depended on for their livelihoods.
ZimPro’s response to the crisis took the form of commodity vouchers, allowing the most severely affected households to access vital food supplies. Each individual received a monthly allocation worth $12, covering 10 kilograms of mealie-meal, 1.5 kilograms of pulses, and 750 mililitres of cooking oil, capped at a maximum of 5 people per family. This innovative approach not only provided immediate relief but also aimed to prevent families from resorting to desperate measures, such as selling livestock or pulling children out of school to work.
A community member, Dakiletsi Tshuma had this to say: ‘’As a widow, this project assisted me a lot. My household has a total of 14 people. Even though I was getting food packages for five family members, this has made a significant difference for us.’’ Edward Siwela of Ward 8 says: ‘’When the project started, we were in the middle of a devastating drought and we were in a dire situation, having exhausted all our food sources.”
Dumile Mthunzi from Ward 7, said: ‘’This project has been of great assistance to the community at large. However, it did not cater for all the members of the community following the set criteria whereby the number of people in a family were restricted to five. There is a high level of unemployment in this district leading to very low levels of incomes.’’
Targeted beneficiaries were selected by the Department of Social Development, with ZimPro verifying the register.
Sibonile Ndlovu, ZimPro’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer, emphasised the importance of sharing lessons learnt during such initiatives.
“We’ve had an exciting three months of implementing this project, but it does not stop here. Together, we can secure a brighter future for local communities.”
ZimPro executive director Tobias Chipare highlighted the initiative’s dual purpose: “Our goal was not just to provide food, but to restore dignity and hope to these communities. The support from the ARC Start Network has enabled us to make a tangible difference during this critical time. Trocaire, besides managing the project funds, supported ZimPro during the entire implementation period”. He warned, however, that without building resilience against climate change, the cycle of vulnerability will continue. “The climate variations are a harsh reality we must confront, especially here in Southern Africa.”
Beyond immediate hunger relief, ZimPro’s initiative addresses deeper societal issues. With food security restored, families are less likely to resort to harmful practices like child marriages. Many children are now returning to school, igniting their hopes for a better future.
As the distribution phase concluded in December, ZimPro is already strategising for future interventions to ensure that Insiza district’s communities can not only survive but thrive amid climate challenges.
“This is just the beginning,” Chipare declared. “Together, we will build a brighter future for all families in Insiza.”
New Ziana
