Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
AT least 6 000 households in vulnerable districts across Zimbabwe are set to benefit from a climate resilience project aimed at strengthening community and ecosystem adaptation to the growing impacts of climate change.
The project, titled Enhancing Resilience of Communities and Ecosystems in the Face of a Changing Climate in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Zimbabwe, is being implemented under the Climate Change Adaptation Fund in response to increasing extreme weather events threatening livelihoods, agriculture and infrastructure.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony of project motorbikes to implementing partners, Environmental Management Agency director-general Mr Aaron Chigona said climate change was already affecting communities across the country.
“Climate change is not a distant threat, but a present reality affecting our communities through extreme weather conditions,” he said.
“These extreme weather events are threatening human lives, disrupting farming communities, damaging infrastructure and leading to loss of livelihoods.”
Mr Chigona said the project targets communities in three provinces — Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland — covering five districts namely Mberengwa, Bulilima, Chimanimani, Gutu and Chivi.
To support implementation of the project, EMA handed over five motorbikes and safety kits worth more than US$25 000 to project partners ORAP and TSURO Trust.
“The motorbikes serve as instruments of transformation, helping us reach project beneficiaries and strengthen resilience where it matters most,” said Mr Chigona.
“As custodians of these resources, we carry the responsibility of ensuring that they are utilised efficiently, maintained properly and deployed solely for the advancement of project objectives and community benefit.
“Let us ensure that every kilometre travelled goes towards building community and ecosystem resilience for the targeted beneficiaries. Together, we are not only responding to climate change, but building stronger and more resilient communities for present and future generations.”
He said the handover underscored the importance of partnerships in climate adaptation initiatives.
“These motorbikes are a direct investment in the mobility and effectiveness of project field staff.
“They will strengthen field operations by improving access to project sites, enhancing monitoring and evaluation activities, supporting rapid response initiatives and enabling project officers to engage communities more effectively,” he said.
TSURO Trust programmes manager Mr Shupikai Majee said the project was unique because it balances environmental protection with community development.
“One of the key selling points of this project is that it offers a healthy balance between ecosystem sustainability objectives and life improvement and enhancement objectives, which we find very important,” he said.
“Many times in conservation, we concentrate so much on protecting the environment and ignore the people who are responsible for protecting it.
“This project is a very good example of how environmental protection and community welfare can go hand in hand.”
Mr Majee said communities and stakeholders had already responded positively to the initiative.
“We are so happy and encouraged by the positive response the project is getting from both stakeholders and beneficiaries,” he said.
