Community Heals Land and Spirit After Cyclone Eline
By Elizabeth Kucherera
When Cyclone Eline struck Zimbabwe in 2000, no one in the quiet village of Nenhowe ,Chimanimani ward5 could have imagined the changes it would bring. Heavy rains and strong winds destroyed homes and swept away the soil, leaving behind deep, dangerous gullies. Over 300 hectares of farmland land that 107 families depended on lay in ruins. Even the village’s graveyard, a sacred place, was threatened.
This was highlighted during the media tour held in Chimanimani last week
But this is a story of hope, teamwork, and courage.
After the disaster, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the government came to help. They worked with local volunteers, bringing not just tools and food, but also encouragement.
Godfrey Mutakura, a farmer, remembers working with EMA. “We never went hungry the EMA always made sure there was food for us when we worked,” he says. His daughter’s grave was in danger of falling into one of the new gullies. “I watched helplessly at first. But now, after the project, I am at peace. The grave is safe.”
Working together, villagers men and women gathered stones from nearby mountains for building gabions, wire cages filled with stones that stop soil from washing away. EMA provided tractors to carry the stones, while experts showed everyone what to do.
Chimwoyo, a village development secretary, led one of the women’s groups. “We made groups of 30 people and worked in shifts of three hours each. Even with our busy lives at home, we found time to help,” she says with a smile. “We had to do it, for our community and our ancestors.”
After hours of hard work, they managed not only to fix the gullies but also to plant 450 trees around their village, bringing new life back to the land.
The community’s hard work paid off. Children play again, farmers plant their crops, and families take comfort knowing their ancestors’ graves are safe.
EMA’s officer Chiyedza Sandi says the project was special “because it was led by the community. The people did the work themselves, and now they have new skills. They can even help other villages in the future.”
EMA and the government continue to support these efforts, bringing together knowledge and resources to help more people protect their land.
The 2026 World Desertification and Drought Day had a theme “Rangelands, Recognize. Respect, Restore.” For everyone in Nenhowe, this is not just a slogan it is a way of life now. They have shown what’s possible when a community comes together, supported by caring partners.
Chimwoyo sums it up best: “This is our land. We must take care of it not just for us, but for our children and our future.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Bernard Chiketo
