Commitment for Life Trip to Zimbabwe 15-22nd May 2017
Growth and development
From the moment we landed in Bulawayo we knew this was going to be a special visit. Our hosts from Christian Aid, Kevin and VB met us at the airport and made us feel right at home.
For the first four days of our journey we were staying in Bulawayo, a city in Southwest Zimbabwe.
Our first day was spent with Christian Aid's partner, ZIMPRO who teaches farming methods known as conservation agriculture, which make best use of the land and water available. They also run projects aimed at economically empowering the poor disadvantaged and marginalised people to have access to knowledge, skills, finances and markets thereby promoting sustainable livelihoods. The programmes we visited were situated in the Insiza district (south west of Bulawayo).
Each programme was very insightful and we had lots of opportunities to talk to the communities about their journeys, how they have benefitted from Christian Aid's work and what their hopes are for the future of their projects.
There was a clear sense of community and development across all programmes which was truly inspiring. It was fantastic to see this and to understand that the partnership between Commitment for Life, Christian Aid and their local partners isn't just about the simple definition of Aid (to help and support) but it went much deeper and taught communities to look at the long-term benefits of their projects - it's about the growth and development to turn £1 into £2 and to give communities the chance to learn exactly how to do this. ZIMPRO encouraged to develop skills by giving the opportunity to undertake courses such as business management whereby they can develop their knowledge of conservation agriculture in order to teach others and to grow and expand their own work. I found this truly inspiring!
Zoey Arrowsmith, St John’s Orpington
Leading by example
On day 2 we visited projects run by the Dabane Trust. It confirmed for me from day 1 how important women are in rural communities and how such projects are aiding their empowerment. This was exemplified by the numbers who were members of the garden projects, but also the particular case of Mrs Pauline Ndlovu. She had not only adopted conservation methods of farming and planted drought resistant crops, but was also a member of the Matshetshe Food Processing Centre. Her lead was now being followed by her neighbours.
Those projects funded by Christian Aid were clearly very highly valued as shown by the warmth of the welcome from everyone we met. In the drought prone areas people were barely subsisting and changing farming practice through the application of technical know-how and the installation of things like solar pumps, pipes and storage tanks, for example, were making a real difference to small rural communities. As a result, farmers were not only able to buy more basic household goods but, most importantly, were able to pay the fees and send their children to school.
The day also brought home to me the importance of choosing the right local partners. By the judicious use of relatively small sums, Christian Aid’s current partners can secure long-term improvements in the lives of hard-pressed rural villagers.
Initially, I had two concerns as we moved around. They were the apparent reluctance of some farmers to switch to drought resistant crop varieties and the extent to which the schemes we saw were one-offs and not being replicated. However, my doubts were dispelled during the day by seeing whole communities coming together and many learning from others or from their neighbours, including the example of Pauline Ndlovu mentioned above.
Robin Gray, Woking URC
Lessons learnt
Today we met Professor Carroll Khombe of the Institute for Rural Technologies. On the long bus journey to Plumtree he told us about their work. We travelled on into the remote, dry, rural area of Masendu. The Prof explained that he had earned his PhD through listening to the people there. I wondered what we might learn…
The bus coped admirably with the deeply rutted roads until,after about an hour, we arrived.
1st lesson: 53km on a damaged sand road is a very long way.
We gathered in the community centre the villagers had built and TendaniMasendo explained how they had set up a loan scheme - firstly each putting one dollar a week aside and lending to each other without interest, but now organised into 5 village banks charging 7% interest. Those who defaulted on loans were taken to the village head and forced to either have goods confiscated in payment or else do community work "until the debt is paid in full".
2nd lesson: there are people in parts of our world still living as if they were in one of Jesus' parables.
Next we went to see a grinding mill run by 'youths' (of 20 and 29). They set up their business with a loan of $200 from the village bank which they paid back in just 2 months.
3rd lesson: given a chance, people of all ages can work hard for a living.
Then we travelled to a farm where with the help of loans they were raising chickens and Guinea fowl.With the proceeds from this business they had dug a well
4th lesson: Guinea fowl are more active foragers, so are resilient to drought.
Another member has set up a 'votel'. This simple one-roomed village hotel provides accommodation for officials in the area (to save travelling there and back in one day) and they are hoping to get some tourists who want an authentic village experience.
5th lesson: I know a great votel in Masendu.
Finally, we visited a kiosk which will the electronic transfer of funds from phone to phone in the future. This is the next stage of development for the village banks. Then it was back to Bulawayo on those rutted roads and a long tarmac one.
Final lesson: I must never complain about the M5 again!
Rev Ruth Whitehead, Moderator South Western Synod
The bigger picture
Following a day travelling from Bulawayo to Harare we received a warm welcome at Mbare United Presbyterian Church of South Africa at their morning service. Monday saw us set off to visit a different type of partner than we had met before. Today was much more about the bigger picture. Christian Aid partner, The Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) research human rights and environmental issues. Their work comes under the governance and accountability strand of Christian Aid’s strategy. ZELA have been in partnership with Christian Aid since 2012 and are concerned about the disregard for human rights and health and safety in the mineral extraction industry in the Great Dyke area of Zimbabwe.
Much of their time is spent lobbying government officials. They have been asked to help draft laws that can benefit the miners. So, they see themselves as working from global to local. They create and help local groups to monitor the effect of mining and will help with any litigation. Their views are often not popular so they walk a fine line between diplomacy and the need for justice.
ZELA feel the extractive industry will be a key player in next year’s elections. They are producing an online platform of information on all formal mining in the country. Most of this information has been collected by local people who, at present, come into their centre to record their information. It is hoped, in future, this can be achieved using mobile phones.
One of their biggest successes is their exchange programme where workers see how the 10% levy suggested by the government to aid a community, is translated into concrete examples. These vary tremendously across the country.
From ZELA we travelled across town to meet the General Secretary of the Zimbabwean Council of Churches(ZCC). With 80% of the country professing to be Christian, faith leaders shape lives on issues such as the way men treat women, women treat children and employees treat their staff.
ZCC is seeking to encourage Christian unity as society becomes highly fragmented. There is a lack of understanding about the constitution and the country is moving towards a General Election. They offer theological reflection and resources on these issues.
Their recent gender policy has been well received internationally. They are working with local Church leaders to strengthen this policy in local churches. Training in leadership in churches, social and economic justice and peace building has helped women gain confidence; so much so that a few want to stand at the next elections.
Linda Mead, Commitment for Life, Programme Co-ordinator.