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With the recent cold winter and then the subsequent hot summer here in Wales, you can start to see the strain on our infrastructure and resources, in Zimbabwe, the effects are far greater.
The Love Zimbabwe charity having been working in partnership with villagers in Chinamhora in the northeast of the country so that they can build the infrastructure needed to cope when times are tough.
Martha Musonza Holman of Love Zimbabwe explains: “In order to help the community we carried out an analysis of their needs, before taking action.
“We quickly realised that energy and access to water were essential things we needed to address and set about installing solar panels to provide electricity and a reinforced water tanks to capture the much-needed rainwater.”
The excess water collected now means that the community can grow their crops using keyhole gardening methods that use very little water even when the rains stop. This helps increase the levels of food security and grow the vegetables needed.
The local Chief has been so impressed with the work done so far to help the community that he has allocated another 7 hectares (roughly the size of 7 rugby pitches) to use for community development projects.
The project was supported by Hub Cymru Africa with funding from the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme.
Hannah Sheppard of Hub Cymru Africa said:
“Sadly it is often the people who are least able to cope that are worst hit by the effects climate change. This is a vicious cycle as it can leave vulnerable people and communities who have done the least to contribute to climate change in the firing line.
“Projects like this are helping people to prepare for the impacts and allowing them to be in a stronger position to cope during the really hard times.”
