Food for Work

Northern Matabeleland in Zimbabwe has been experiencing significant food security issues due to drought for many years. In recent months we have been made aware of acute malnutrition in the area. Last week we headed that way to see how a new food for work project was being implemented. Travelling through mountainous terrain and over the River Gwayi we eventually arrived in the area south of Lake Kariba where the work was taking place.

Before visiting the project site we met with members of a local CBO that MCC has partnered with to deliver the completion of four earthen dams and two weirs across intermittent river systems in the hopes of collecting water when the rains do come. This work is being done by communities in exchange for food provided through one of MCC's back donors - the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Tonga culture has enabled the people to survive in extreme conditions but extended drought has made even this very difficult. Sorghum and millet are drought resistant but even they need some water. Goats are more successful at grazing in this ecosytem than cattle. Fish from the nearby Zambezi River cum Lake Kariba are an option but this year the water temperature has dropped and so fish are not found by the fisherfolk. The second story homes on the left provide a cooler sleeping environment than if they were on the ground.

 

This is truly a community effort organized by representatives from seven local villages representing about 1200 people. Everyone who will receive food works at this two days a week two to four hours at a time. In addition the entire community comes out once or twice a week in an attempt to complete the work prior to the hoped for and anticipated rains come October. Most of the workers will be those who are  unable to find work elsewhere. In addition there are some 80 elderly unable to work at all.

Men dig out the main trench which will underlie the earthen works. Nearby women use pick axes to loosen up clay deposits which are then wheel barrowed to the main site. Clay and river sand will be layered alternately to form the base of the dam. It is hard to imagine the site filled with life giving water in the heat and dust but the vision is there to achieve just such a goal!