By Andrew Zhou
MASVINGO – As the curtains close on the multi-sectoral CARE Takunda project, communities in Chivi and Zaka districts are celebrating a transformative four-year journey that has redefined rural livelihoods and climate resilience.
Since its inception in 2020, the project has moved beyond mere subsistence aid, establishing a robust infrastructure of solar-powered water systems, rehabilitated boreholes, and economic empowerment hubs across 46 wards in the two districts.
One of the most visible successes of the Takunda initiative is the massive investment in Village Business Units (VBUs). These solar-powered garden schemes have turned arid patches of land into green belts. In Chivi, 26 VBUs were established, while Zaka saw the installation of 31 units.
Chivi District Agritex Officer Brighton Hadzirabwi confirmed that all VBUs established by CARE Takunda had officially transitioned to Agritex supervision and encouraged leaders to work closely with local authorities and agricultural extension officers to maintain the project’s momentum.
”The VBUs established by CARE Takunda are now under our (Agritex) supervision. Chairpersons should cooperate with local authorities and our Agritex officers in their respective wards to ensure the continuity of the great work done by CARE Takunda,” said Hadzirabwi.
Care Takunda Country Director, Charlene Ambali lauded the success of localized intervention programmes in Chivi and Zaka, noting a significant decline in climate-induced vulnerabilities.
“By fostering economic resilience through robust vocational training, the project is effectively equipping villagers with the skills necessary to drive sustainable growth and financial independence in the face of ecological shifts,” said Ambali.
Speaking to TellZim News, one of the beneficiaries from ward 24 in Zaka, Maneta Matingwina, hailed the project as a transformative milestone for her family’s financial stability saying she had managed to settle her son’s tertiary tuition fees independently.
“The revenue generated from the VBU produce has empowered me to independently settle my son’s tertiary tuition fees.”said Matingwina
Beyond gardening, the project addressed the basic need for clean drinking water through three piped water schemes in Chivi and six in Zaka, bringing water closer to doorsteps.
A staggering 124 boreholes were repaired or rehabilitated, with 58 in Chivi and 66 in Zaka, ensuring that the most remote villages have access to safe water.
The project’s reach has been expansive, touching nearly 160,000 lives, 91,652 in Chivi and 67,818 in Zaka including individuals trained in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and members of Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) who are now running their own small-scale businesses.
The official handover of assets in Masvingo was done in October 2024 and the project is currently in its “wrap-up” phase with the official end date set for April 2026.
As the Takunda team prepares to exit, the lush gardens and functioning boreholes stand as a testament to what collaborative developmental work can achieve in Zimbabwe’s most drought-prone regions.
