Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
AS Zimbabwe works towards achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030, most severely degraded gullies in Mukosi, Masvingo Province and Nenhohwe, Manicaland Province, are being successfully restored through land recovery initiatives implemented being under the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSLIP).
Land reclamation is vital for agriculture-dependent communities in Zimbabwe to halt land degradation, combat climate change effects like erosion, boost agricultural productivity, and improve livelihoods by providing secure land tenure for investment and credit access.
Through a combination of national policies, targeted restoration efforts, and community-driven programmes, Zimbabwe has committed to restoring over 3,9 million hectares of degraded land, improving land cover by 70 percent and ensuring a 10 percent net gain in land productivity compared to 2008 levels.
Key strategies include reforestation, wetland restoration and the promotion of conservation agriculture to rehabilitate degraded arable land.
The Government, through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), is implementing these actions in hotspot districts like Masvingo, Chipinge, and Chimanimani.
Programmes like the DSLIP are improving dryland ecosystems, supported by international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Environment Facility.
In an interview, DSLIP national project coordinator, Mrs Precious Magwaza, said gullies were a ticking time bomb for the communities.
“By reclaiming them, we are protecting both the land and the people’s future. The sprawling gully in Mukosi, had grown dangerously close to a major road linking several villages to Ngomahuru Hospital and posed an escalating threat to access to healthcare for thousands,” she said.
“In Nenhohwe, the deepening gully had crept perilously near the local cemetery, putting sacred burial grounds at risk of destruction.
‘‘The environmental damage was not only eroding soil, it was eroding access to heritage, and the emotional well-being of residents.”
In response, she said they funded the full reclamation process, mobilising key Government institutions including EMA, Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) (formerly Agritex), and rural district councils (RDCs).
Mrs Magwaza said using a blend of engineering solutions such as gabions, along with nature-based approaches like revegetation, the project aimed to stabilise soils and prevent further erosion.
“One of the programme’s standout achievements has been its ability to galvanize community participation. In both Mukosi and Nenhohwe, residents were not mere bystanders; they were active participants.
“Through training sessions, community work days and awareness campaigns, the project empowered communities to take ownership of their environment.”
She said the two gullies were proof that degraded land can be brought back to life, while what is needed is commitment, collaboration and community participation.
Mukosi Ward 22 Councillor Peter Marambire said they had never seen this kind of unity before.
“Everyone from youth to elders is playing a role in reclaiming this land. In Mukosi, where access to Ngomahuru Hospital is essential, the reclamation has offered a sense of relief and renewed security,” he said.
Mr Chengeto Mapanzure, a villager in ward 22 Mukosi, pointed out that when the rains came, they feared the road would be washed away, but now they can sleep peacefully, knowing that the link to the hospital is safe.
In Nenhohwe, the restoration effort is taking a deeply personal dimension as community elders and the youth are actively participating in the restoration works.
“Our ancestors are at peace again. This land is sacred, and we are grateful it is being protected,” said Mr Taonekwa Mafuruse, a village elder in Nenhohwe village.
Experts have said the success of these reclamation efforts shows the importance of combining scientific methods with local knowledge and participation.
The initiative also aligns with Zimbabwe’s commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and national strategies for climate resilience.
DSLIP is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe with support from FAO and various implementing partners, namely Forestry Commission, World Vision, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, and Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO).
The project has become a shining example of land reclamation done right, driven by science, policy and people.
