Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve in Binga
BINGA District has emerged as a leader in driving climate resilience and sustainable development through wetlands restoration, with hundreds of households now enjoying improved food security and livelihoods through innovative community gardens and village business units.
The transformation comes after years of unsustainable farming practices saw villagers cultivating crops directly within wetlands, leading to the degradation and drying up of these vital ecosystems due to lack of knowledge on proper wetland management.
However, through collaborative effort between the Government of Zimbabwe, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and Kulima Mbobumi Training Centre (KMTC), the Locally-Led Indigenous Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe (LINCZ) Project has breathed new life into the district’s wetlands.
The commissioning of the Teteni Wetland Garden on Tuesday by Binga District Development Co-ordinator (DDC) marked a significant milestone in this transformation journey.
The event celebrated the restoration of what was once a degraded wetland into a thriving community asset that now supports over 60 households.
Beneficiaries of the project have expressed profound gratitude for the intervention, sharing stories of transformation that go beyond mere food security.
Mrs Lethiwe Ncube (47), a mother of four from Ward 17, recounted how she and other community members had long-established gardens within wetlands, which proved unsustainable and contributed to their drying up.
“Before this project, we would cultivate directly in the wetlands, not knowing we were destroying the very source of our livelihood. Many wetlands were drying up, and we faced severe water shortages,” said Mrs Ncube.
“Today, we have clean water to drink, our livestock have water, and we are food secure. From our produce, which includes onions, butternuts, tomatoes and cabbages I can now pay school fees for my children and develop my homestead,” she said.
Ms Maggie Mukuki (54) echoed similar sentiments, saying the community gardens have provided a sustainable alternative to wetland cultivation.
Ms Belita Mugande and Mr Jerry Muleya shared their success stories, highlighting how the project has not only restored the environment but also created economic opportunities for families.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Binga DDC who was represented by Mr Orders Munsaka commended the collaborative efforts that have made the project a success.
“Through continued collaboration between Government, development partners, and communities, we can build stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous rural communities across Zimbabwe,” Mr Munsaka said.
The project has so far restored four wetlands and established four small irrigation schemes of 1,3 hectares each at Manjolo (Ward 7), Zyakamana (Ward 12), Kabuba (Ward 17), and Siadindi (Ward 25).
Other restored wetlands and established community gardens include Kamaziyo, Mandimoni and Dumbwe.
MCC country director Dr Gopar Tapkida explained the rationale behind the intervention, emphasising the importance of providing alternatives to wetland cultivation.
“We in MCC work in many countries and Zimbabwe is one of the countries that we are involved in. MCC does not have a programme of itself in any country. We try to complement the work of the Government in every country,” said Dr Tapkida.
“We look at areas of need and that’s where you find us in places where there are greater needs. Binga happens to be one of the driest areas affected by drought, so it is very proper that we should be working here.”
Dr Tapkida said the Government is very much interested in wetland management and actually chairs the wetland conventions globally.
“This particular wetland, we know that before where we are right now, there were people operating in the wetlands. The Government is also making the effort to move people out of wetlands,” he said.
“So, we’ve to make a provision and that’s why we collaborated with KMTC to come out with making the alternative for the community.”
He said while about 20 people were working in the wetland before, moving them out and making this provision is now serving an even greater number, about 60 people benefitting from the decision to move out of the wetland.
KMTC manager Mr Phenious Mpande provided an overview of the LINCZ programme.
“The programme supports communities in adopting Climate Smart and Nature-based approaches that improves food security, protect natural resources and enhance community capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions,” he said.
The project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and MCC, has been operational in three districts, Binga, Gwanda and Mwenezi since October 2024.
In Binga alone, the project has worked with 6 600 smallholder farmers, distributed 5kg of small grain seeds (sorghum, millet and groundnuts) to each farmer, protected four wetlands, established four small irrigation schemes, raised over 20 000 tree seedlings, rehabilitated 23 gullies in 11 wards, established 11 processing hubs in six wards, and constructed 400 beehives for honey production.
This comes as Zimbabwe chairs the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, demonstrating the country’s commitment to wetland conservation and sustainable management.
The project’s success in Binga serves as a model for other districts facing similar challenges, showing how climate-smart development can simultaneously strengthen livelihoods, protect natural resources, and improve resilience to climate change.
