Muchaneta Chimuka
Several women under Survivors in Action Grassroots Women’s Network in Seke and Chihota are cherishing the fruits of their chick projects, mushroom, bee keeping and maize meal grinding and packaging, vegetable farming among others which is helping in fighting gender-based violence, drug and substance abuse, hunger and poverty among others.
They are using the proceeds to expand the project, moving with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra and Vision 2030 of leaving no one and no place behind in terms becoming an upper to middle income society.
“We are now independent and empowered women because we no longer depend on our husbands for survival. Asking for money from a husband daily can result to gender-based violence.
” Thanks to Huairou Commission which supported us with a grinding machine and project trainings. We are buying maize then we grind the mealie meal, package it and put it in the market.
” We hope to do mass production of mealie meal to make sure that no household will suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Food security is the major thrust of our project,” said Ms. Betty Mashamba a member of the Survivors in Action Grass Roots Women’s Network.
Margaret Nyajina the Chairperson of the Network said they put the mealie meal on the scale to make sure that they don’t run loses. “We are a group of ten women in Seke who were trained on life skills projects and we are happy that we can earn a living. We are even sending our grandchildren to school, renovate our houses and we have since started revolving funds using the proceeds,” she said.
Mrs Edinah Mashora who is into mushroom project narrated how easy the project is and how quick it is to make money.“It only takes three weeks before we start harvesting and the materials that are used in growing mushroom are cheap. We are a group of ten women and we are earning a lot of money and our lives are far much better than some who are in the formal sector. I managed to build my house and I’m sending my children to school using the money that I realise from this project,” she said.
Survivors Action Grassroots Women Network Chihota are excelling in poultry and bee keeping project thereby fighting hunger and poverty in their community.
“Water challenges were a setback, thanks to the God given rains we managed to rejuvenate our projects.
We are into bee keeping and several business people and individuals are coming to buy the honey because they are confident that it is real honey. Communities are tired of fake honey which has flooded the markets,” said Mrs Joyce Zharare the Network’s Vice Chairperson.
Mrs Anesu Mutobwera of Chihota Village under Headman Madziva and Chief Chihota who is into broiler and road runner chick project said they hope to expand the project.
“As rural women we are blessed because we have ample space to do our project and we do survive on revolving funds. Poultry project is easy and we make quick money. The chicks require proper feeds, water, ventilation and a clean environment to reduce mortality rates. We hope to open butcheries and shops where we can sell the meat, eggs because there is ready markets out there,” she said.
The Chihota women, applauded their Village Head Mr Killian Tichaona Madziva who stood with them through thick and thin.
He said, climate change is a set back but he encouraged them to do various projects such bee keeping, value addition such that they don’t loose out during harsh conditions.
“Climate change is real, these women suffered because underground water was scarce and they have to buy water from neighbours after their borehole dried up. It was not easy but they endured that when I decided to assist then through bee keeping projects but we are now happy that rains have come and they are now doing various projects.
“We are not receiving less cases of gender-based violence at the Chief’s courts because our women are empowered and there is no more gossiping issues since they are always occupied,” he said.
“We are quite thankful to Mr Madziva who offered these women enough space to do the projects and he is assisting then with the bee project. The women are marking a milestone in these projects. They are into mealie meal making, mushroom, poultry, vegetable gardening and it is our hope that they become self-sufficient to reduce cases of gender-based violence among vulnerable communities,” said Clara Makwara the Director – Survivors in Action Grassroots Women Network.
Meanwhile, since the Launch of the Presidential Poultry Scheme the Government has distributed over 2,4 million chicks across the country wide in order to achieve food security and nutrition.
