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Local NGO Tackles Rural Poverty in Dry Zimbabwe- NGOs - Global policy Forum Local NGO Tackles Rural Poverty in Dry Zimbabwe
AlertNet
November 4, 2002
Christian Care has operated in Zimbabwe since 1967. Its mission is to improve the quality of life and self-supporting capacities of disadvantaged people. Its chairman in the Matabeleland region, Jackson Ndlovu, told AlertNet's Busani Bafana how the organisation works in a region affected by drought.
AN: What challenges do national political developments present to NGOs in Zimbabwe?
JN: We are not much affected by the current situation in our running programmes. Suffice to say we are a bit concerned that future project proposals and extensions to other areas may be hindered by the current land-related issues.
AN: Given the dry climate in most of Matabeleland, what poverty alleviation strategies have you implemented there?
JN: We are running nutrition gardens in Binga, drawing water from the Zambezi River using pump engines in Beitbridge. Christian Care has helped in the construction of sand dams and started small-scale irrigation. In Insiza we also have harvested rainwater by construction of water harvesting tanks, mainly for household use. I am of the opinion that Christian Care could do more in the dry areas of Matabeleland North if cooperation with local authorities could reach a level higher than it is.
AN: Has your organisation been involved in the food aid programme of the U.N. World Food Programme?
JN: Yes mainly in Mashonaland and Manicaland. Matabeleland would be covered under a different church-related support, and we should be getting feedback on our application to be given a licence to import food. Already we have identied Umguza/Bubi and Lupnae areas for food relief, which should be undertaken before the end of October. We are looking at feeding over 200,000 families.
AN: Where does Christian Care work?
JN: Christian Care is national and works in Manicaland, Mashonaland, Masvingo and Midlands provinces. Our current programmes (in Matabeleland) are in Insiza, in water and sanitation. In Binga we are involved in nutrition gardens and health. We finished our programmes in Beitbridge last year.
AN: What problems have you encountered in your operations and how have you resolved them ?
JN: We have had some problems related with identity. People generally believe that Christian Care is one of the foreign NGOs, whereas we are Zimbabwean. We depend on the goodwill of Christians locally and internationally. As an NGO, we have had problems related to the uncertainty on the way forward of our programmes, but I must admit most of the anxiety has been that we did not know how much people were willing to work and defend what we do. We need food now to feed people, but we also have to wait like anyone else. Some areas of Matabeleland -- like Nkayi -- are not covered and Christian Care is afraid to get there. But it would appear the fear is self-inflicted by the Christian Care's staff.
AN: What have you done to promote the participation of the local people in your initiatives?
JN: In Binga we started the programmes by involving the locals in the identification of areas to set up the vegetable gardens, asked them to form their own committees and we work together. In Insiza we have water-harvesting tanks. These are community activities where the locals are in charge. So are our livestock replacement schemes. In Beitbridge the local community was given brick-moulding equipment to make them self-sustaining. All our projects have the facet of learning and take over.
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