CHIPINGE – From humble beginnings in 2013 as a small nutrition garden, a project in Chipinge East has grown into a transformative force, uplifting women, improving households, and fostering peace in the community.
The Muwango Village Business Unit (VBU), which started with just 30 members and now boasts 85 women, has become a cornerstone for food security, income generation, and social change. Through horticulture, climate-smart farming, and village savings schemes, members have broken cycles of poverty and dependence while boosting family nutrition.
One survivor of gender-based violence shared, “I married at 16 and lived with constant abuse. But since joining this project, I’m self-sufficient, and my husband now respects me. Our home is peaceful.”
Another participant added, “We often fought because we had nothing to eat. At first my husband opposed my joining, but when he saw the vegetables and income I brought home, he became supportive.”
The women are not only feeding their families but also investing in education, livestock, and home construction. Many now send their children to school, while reports of domestic violence in the area have markedly declined.
Batanai Garden Secretary, Mrs. Thandiwe Nyowani, noted, “From 30 members we’ve grown to 85. Through our isle savings system, we’ve improved our lives. I even built a house from my earnings. These projects have restored dignity and reduced gender-based violence here.”
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development continues to support the initiative. Agritex Officer Mr. Costain Zhande explained, “We provide training in crop rotation and horticulture to ensure families remain food secure and can earn income.”
Edited by Godfrey Gusha
