Climate Stories: Sipho’s Story

My name is Sipho, I am a 52-year-old and I am living in Nkayi.

20 years ago, when life became unbearable for me and my husband, we decided to migrate to South Africa. I personally did not find a good job or a good life. I would always miss death by a whisker either from fast driving cars or thugs who would ask for my money and phone. I convinced my husband to return home to Zimbabwe and to open general dealer shop.

One day, when I was on my way to look for a shop space for us to rent in our rural area in Zimbabwe, I passed by a borehole near which was a very good garden with heavenly fresh vegetables and fruits. I then learnt that the garden was a community one as supported by a local non-governmental organisation called HEFO.

The local farmers said that they invited HEFO and a few other organisations, through the Rural District Council to come and assist them in their plight but only HEFO heartily responded some 13 years ago.

Our community has received numerous training sessions on social, economic, as well as climate change issues. HEFO, also supported us with water for domestic and livestock as well as agricultural uses. Our school has received water tanks for clean water storage. Our leaders have also trained on Good Governance. Our gardens have been refenced using diamond mesh wire instead of the dead tree branches.

HEFO works here because my village is among the villages with greater vulnerabilities in terms of poverty, early pregnancies, school dropouts, and lack of clean water. Gender-based conflicts have been the order of the day long before HEFO came to work with us. Above all we are ready to help ourselves once provided with a start.

HEFO continues to support us in the local community through monitoring and evaluation as well as training on how to build our resilience. Otherwise, as a community, we are sustainably continuing what HEFO has given and taught us. We are replicating the same approaches to agriculture, water, and livestock in our individual homesteads.

I see me and my family changed for the better. The structures I have built now are far different from the ones I had when I arrived from South Africa. The projects I have embarked on, courtesy of HEFO, have provided me with the money I needed to do everything that I have managed to do here, including drilling a borehole.

My immediate family, especially my husband, are very proud of the efforts that I have done through the building of this home. My husband has even started to respect me more because of the decision I took to come back to Zimbabwe.

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