THE success story of Sizimisele community garden in Empumalanga suburb has given Hwange Local Board (HLB) the impetus to expedite the rolling out of the concept to other areas in an effort to assist vulnerable members of the community.
HLB chairman Councillor Nqobile Ocean Mabhena said the local authority remains committed to spreading the community garden concept in all wards in its area of jurisdiction.
“There’s already a resolution for the setting up of community gardens in all wards in need of one. We are expecting Ward Development Committees (Wadcos) with the assistance of their Councillors to identify a piece of land that will be recommended by Council’s engineering department to embark on such a project,” he said.
Ward six Wadco members have already expressed an interest in putting up a community garden. Cllr Mabhena emphasised on the need to ensure that beneficiaries of the schemes are drawn from the less fortunate members of society.
“There should be a criteria for one to qualify as a beneficiary of the project. It’s not just everyone, it’s meant for vulnerable members of the community such as widows among others,” he said.
Cllr Mabhena hailed Sizimisele community garden members for their sheer dedication and commitment in their quest to ensure the productiveness of the agricultural enterprise.
“This year, this group of women (Sizimisele community garden members) managed to realise a very beautiful maize crop,” he said. Sizimisele community garden’s membership comprises of 14 women from ward five with varying vulnerability challenges. The project was initiated by ward Councillor Tendai Sibanda four years ago. Cllr Mabhena said despite the project’s success there was a need to ensure its sustainability and viability.
“The scheme doesn’t have a source of water and proper fence to secure their produce. We are therefore appealing to donors or individuals to assist in drilling a borehole and putting up a fence, so that they farm right throughout the year,” he said.
Cllr Mabhena said the agricultural project’s goal of turning around livelihoods of its beneficiaries could only be achieved if production was done throughout the year.
“We want to see them (Sizimisele community garden members) having a nutrition garden, so that they can grow vegetables throughout the year for their families or sell to supplement their other forms of income,” he said.
Cllr Sibanda reiterated Cllr Mabhena’s sentiments saying access to a reliable water source would enable the community garden members to embark on thriving horticultural project.
“If only we had access to water we will be planting horticultural crops such as carrots, tomatoes, spinach, chomolia among others. These will enable members to fend for themselves. “As you are aware all of our members are disadvantaged. For instance we have a widow who takes care of three grandchildren. All her four children passed on and she survives on hand-outs,” she said.Hwange News letter
