By Nosisa Purazi
In the heart of Insiza District’s Ward 17, under Chief Dambisamahubo Maduna, a new chapter of resilience and innovation is unfolding. At 46 years old, Sichelesile Moyo has become a driving force behind a movement that is transforming lives through agroecology.
For years, growing food was a struggle. Without training, knowledge, or resources, farmers in her village toiled under difficult conditions, producing little and often relying on external food aid. But everything changed when they embraced collaboration and agroecological farming.
Determined to transform their circumstances, Sichelesile and other farmers in her community formed the Sikanyekanye (which means ‘we are together’) Agroecological Nutritional Garden in Village 18b. With support from Zimbabwe Project (ZIMPRO) Trust and Fambidzanai Permaculture Center (FPC), the group gained crucial skills in sustainable farming.
“We were offered a 100m x 50m plot of land by our village head to practice our agroecological methods. Through training and interactions with ZIMPRO, we gained new methods for preserving and processing food, as well as pre- and post-harvest techniques, which has transformed our way of life as we are now earning a living from this, something which had not been happening in the past. We used to struggle to feed our families,” says Sichelesile.
Their efforts bore fruit—literally and figuratively. What began as a small initiative has flourished into a thriving community project. Betty Nkomo, a 56-year-old committee member, has witnessed the transformation firsthand.
“Now, our community garden has grown to 70 members [from the initial 5 members], which has made our work much easier. We engage in a variety of activities, including harvesting runoff water through innovative bed designs, creating organic manure, and implementing various cropping systems like intercropping, crop rotation, and mixed cropping.”
This shared knowledge has strengthened the community, not just in farming, but in preserving traditions and fostering intergenerational learning.
“Each member brings new ideas for the development of the garden,” Sichelesile explains. “We share skills across generations, as our members come from different age groups. We’ve also learned a lot about indigenous knowledge, which deeply connects us with our environment.”
The impact of their teamwork is visible in the garden’s remarkable progress.
“Through our teamwork, we’ve managed to establish 70 beds, each 10 meters long, for cultivating fresh vegetables, 15 beds of tomatoes, each with 10 plants, and other crops like carrots, sugar beans, and okra. We sell the produce and share the profits. Additionally, every member contributes $5 per month for the upkeep of the garden,” says Betty.
The funds are used to sustain the project, including sending members to attend workshops, and covering operational costs. The garden has even expanded to include indigenous and exotic herbs, providing natural remedies to the community.
Temba Busangabanye (47), the Agricultural Technical Extension (AGRITEX) officer for Ward 17, has been deeply impressed by the farmers’ dedication.
“I am proud of this community. They work together to reduce the hunger crisis and conserve nature for the benefit of future generations. We used to question their methodologies, especially around agroecology, but we have since been on the forefront of supporting and imparting knowledge to other farmers to draw lessons from Sikanyekanye Agroecological Nutritional Garden,” he says.
Through determination, collaboration, and agroecology, Sichelesile and her community have rewritten their story. No longer struggling with food insecurity, they are now leaders in sustainable farming—pioneers of a movement that promises a greener, more food-secure future.
