Zimbabwe
Act for Peace in Zimbabwe
In the current dire situation of food shortage, hyperinflation, over 90% unemployment and the devastating cholera epidemic, Act for Peace’s project partner Christian Care Zimbabwe (CCZ), has focused on enhancing food and nutrition security, improving hygiene and building the capacity of communities to become self-sufficient. CCZ was formed by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches in 1967. Their projects include:
• rural development
• disaster relief
• dam construction and irrigation
• water and sanitation
• livestock restocking
• HIV/AIDS prevention
• advocacy on behalf of the disadvantaged
After being taught methods of Conservation Farming by CCZ, local community leader Mr. Nhongo said, “for the past ten years, I have never realised such a good crop,” His community previously practiced the traditional farming techniques, which don’t adapt well to the changing climate. The food security programs increase household nutrition greatly by producing fresher crops throughout the year, making the community as a whole become healthier. The practices are simple, easy to adopt and accessible to even the most resource poor family.
Conventional farming depletes the soil of nutrients, forcing farmers to seek new farmland at the expense of the remaining forests, which in turn caused declining water sources and more droughts. Conservation farming breaks that cycle.
CCZ has also built toilets and developed clean water supplies, distributed plastic buckets, chloride of lime, soap and blankets and carried out Training of Trainers workshops in hygiene promotion and supplied necessary hygiene kits.
For the internally displaced, CCZ works hard to go beyond offering humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support, to rehabilitate and reintegrate the affected people in Zimbabwe. In response to the political violence in the aftermath of the June 2008 Presidential run-off elections in Zimbabwe, CCZ temporarily housed over 3,000households displaced by the violence and ministered to their day to day needs. The communities being assisted welcome the life saving interventions and need continued support in the face of the adverse droughts. CCZ aims to ensure that they become self-sustaining and less and less dependent in the future.
“We are delighted to share with you that the Churches in Zimbabwe have not gone to sleep, but are seriously working in partnership with various players in the humanitarian sector to bring the much needed relief to Zimbabweans”
Rev. Forbes Matonga, National Director – Christian Care
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can provide vital training for four Zimbabwean farmers in methods of sustainable agriculture so they can produce bigger and better crops
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can give a person peace-building training so that they can become a leader in their community and promote peaceful relations |
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can provide seeds, equipment and supplies so farmers can begin cultivating the land using these techniques |
