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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau 

THE revival of nutritional community gardens in Hurungwe, a project funded by the Japanese Embassy in Zimbabwe, has started bearing fruit.

Japanese Embassy funded the projects through a non-governmental organisation called 4-H Zimbabwe.

The NGO signed a partnership with the Japanese Embassy in Zimbabwe for establishment of eight community gardens in Hurungwe West.

It also helped restore gardens in Midlands and Matabeleland.

The current works by the organisation to revamp nutritional gardens in Hurungwe, have seen at least 50 households from each village open a new page to their lives. 

Shavereshongwa Village head, Mr Issac Bakasa said, the project came at a time when Government was encouraging consumption of organic foods and utilisation of land for development.

“My village has one nutritional garden, supported by 4-H Zimbabwe in Ward 25. The garden is supporting 73 households in my village with families growing mostly vegetables, garlic, maize and beans. 

 “Our Agritex officers are supporting us with technical advice,” he said. 

He added: “We are receiving seed, chemicals and fertilisers to kick-start farming business that we believe will also improve livelihoods.”

The NGO, 4-H Zimbabwe, set up a nutritional garden at Chirebvu Village in Ward 17 and drilled a borehole for the villagers.

Village head Mr Peter Masuku hailed the development.

“We now have access to clean and safe water. Availability of water has been a challenge to most households but, with the installation of a solar-powered borehole to the community, lives have been changed,” he said. He added that livestock in the community is now accessing water from the same borehole, saving the owners from travelling long distances.

Most dams in the area quickly run dry due to siltation.

However, Government, through District Development Fund (DDF) is now working towards disiltation.

Chief Matau from the constituency, told The Herald that Chivakanenyama Dam and many other dams in the area needed to be disilted to improve water availability. 

He lauded the coming in of 4-H Zimbabwe in the area adding its works had started to bear fruits for the community. 

Tashinga Nutritional Garden chairperson, Ms Suma Suma hailed the programme.

Prior to the drilling of the borehole, Ms Suma said, women had to travel long distances to access water.

Mrs Furena Marufu, a shop owner at Birimawe Business District along Magunje-Zvipani Road, said revival of the nutritional gardens in the area would improve people’s lives.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka hailed the good gesture by Japan.

She said the projects strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and Zimbabwe.