Investing in irrigation essential to reduce impact of droughts on Africa
seen, and respected.
Her courage to report the abuse inspires other women to speak up and fight for what is right. She embodies the strength and bravery needed to combat abuse in all its forms – verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual.
Executive director for Mwanasikana Wanhasi Opportunity Makanga said they mainly look at the rights of women and girls as well as their empowerment.
“Women and girls are the ones who suffer the most in communities,” Ms Makanga said.
“We have seen that they are usually looked down upon, and are the ones who suffer domestic violence.”
Ms Dadirai Yakobi, girls’ protection and support services senior officer and counsellor at Shamwari Yemwanasikana said their organisation protects women and the girl child from all forms of abuse despite their backgrounds.
“We stand for the rights of all women and girls in various communities across the country,” she said.
“We want all girls and women to know where to report when they are involved in all forms of abuse. We also help them through referral pathways, such as taking them to the police and other arms of the Government to ensure that justice is served.”
Therefore, as we join the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day, as Zimbabweans, we should use this opportunity to reflect on our individual and societal treatment of women.
We should actively contribute to creating a safe world where all individuals, regardless of gender, are treated with equality, civility and respect.
to pay, the protracted legal case has “tarnished” his “gender record”, celebrating it as “a victory for women” as they reclaim their lost voice on “matters of gender equality and mutual respect”.
“The assault case, the conviction and judgment has put Tendai Biti’s gender and anger record on the spotlight”, she said.
Ms Parirenyatwa implored women to respectfully stand up for their rights for justice to prevail, and counselled men to learn from this unfortunate case to promote a peaceful society where both men and women live happily and harmoniously. of how millions in Ancient Egypt would fully utilise the Nile River for their sustenance for years, when that country received little or no rainfall to ensure a normal rainy season
With drought glaring hard in the face of millions of people across Africa, African leaders and stakeholders can learn a few things on the importance of harnessing water bodies as a way of sustaining agricultural activities in times of calamities.
Several African countries - Zimbabwe included, are faced with severe drought due to very low rainfall coupled with high temperatures, caused by the effects of El Nino.
The prevailing weather conditions have exhausted people’s ability to cope with drier conditions and scarce and unpredictable rains.
Already there are some reports of deaths of livestock, while millions of people are already in need of food assistance at a time they should have been harvesting various crops.
El Nino is a natural and recurring weather phenomenon that warms parts of the Pacific, affecting weather patterns around the world. It has different impacts in different region
When rains fail or come late, it has a significant impact, hence the situation that most African countries find themselves in.
Suffice to say, upending effects of climate change is a phenomenon that most countries should have prepared for by putting a litany of mitigating measures in place, considering that the issue has been on the radar for more than a decade.
At the rate at which the globe is warming, emission of gases and the extreme weather temperatures being experienced across, rainfed agriculture might soon be a thing of the past. The situation calls for a serious relook on the role that existing water bodies across Africa could have in revamping and boosting agriculture.
Africa is a continent endowed with abundant natural resources such as land, water, biodiversity, minerals and others.
These resources are yet to be significantly developed and hold considerable potential to transform the continent and enhance the overall well-being of African people.
If these resources can be properly utilised and managed, they can contribute to the creation of resilient systems of agriculture, improved access to water and energy and modern industrial development.
Unlike other continents the water situation is not dire but would need to be harnessed through development of infrastructure and proper management of the resource. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Africa boasts of large rivers, big lakes; vast water lands and limited, but widespread, ground water resources.
The water resources combined with other natural resources such as vast land resources, and suitable topography, provide high potential for irrigation development and hydro.
Such water variables present Africa with an opportunity to strengthen its crop harvest and ensure that the continent never lacks or borrow, as is the current situation.
Although it may take long before the continent works on a collective initiative to harness water even on regional blocs, it is commendable that some individual countries have seen the honour and logic of developing water bodies for the benefit of their people.
In other African countries there are pockets of hope as various countries are making concerted efforts to ensure that they harness ground water and construction of inland water bodies. Zimbabwe has been working on a number of projects to increase water availability for both household and commercial use, with usage in agriculture being of immediate concern. The country now boasts of several other water bodies in all the provinces, which can be used to bolster irrigation activities in addition to providing adequate water for community and commercial use.
Marovanyati Dam in Buhera that was commissioned last year is also a strategic water body that has capacity to irrigate more than 1 200 hectares throughout the year.
Tugwi Mukosi Dam in Masvingo, the largest interior water body in Zimbabwe, with a 1,8 billion cubic capacity reservoir, can irrigate over 40 000 hectares of land through improved irrigation technology for three seasons.
Both Chivhu and Muchekaranwa dams that were commissioned by President Mnangagwa, adding to the existing water bodies, which are readily available for irrigation use.
Other projects among them Bindura, Gwayi Shangani and Thuli-Manyange dams which are currently under construction revives hopes that the country has adequate water for irrigation once all the infrastructure is now in place.
Such investments, if effectively used and coupled by adequate agricultural funding and the right attitude can bolster the country’s economy within a short period.
While the water bodies put Zimbabwe on a safe pedestal, thanks to the Second Republic initiative, the nation cannot sit on its laurels, but should continue to invest in similar water harvesting projects to avert serious water challenges the nation has been facing.
The changing climatic conditions and population growth, calls for constant investment in water-related projects, a situation not unique to Zimbabwe alone, but a continental one.