By Rangarirai Shanyurai
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded, Dry Lands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSLIP) has set a target of empowering 52 percent of women in Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland Provinces out of the 15 000 beneficiaries.
Speaking at a cocktail at Great Zimbabwe hotel recently, DSLIP Zimbabwe Child Project National Coordinator, Precious Magwaza said the GEF funded project focused on restoring degraded land and forests with a target to restore 2 150ha of degraded land.
“In Zimbabwe the project is being implemented in dry land areas across Save and Runde catchments covering Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland. Out of these provinces we have donated machines to eight districts and 44 wards where the projects are running.
“Our target is to restore 2 150 hectares of land and have 172 540 hectares of landscapes under improved practices through the implementation of integrated land use plans promoting Sustainable Land and Forest management. We also aim to reach out to 15 000 beneficiaries, 52 percent being women,” said Magwaza.
Speaking at the same event, Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira said the province was mainly dry and climate change had contributed to various environmental challenges but more support was needed.
“Masvingo province is predominantly dry and characterised by frequent droughts, our rural population largely depends on agriculture and as such susceptible to climate change inviolability. Climate change impacts has contributed to some of the environmental challenges we are seeing today.
“These include wetland degradation, stream bank cultivation, illegal mining and firewood trading and soil erosion among others. While efforts have been made by government to address these challenges more needs to be done. Thus support such as the one being offered under the DSLIP is appreciated,” said Chadzamira.
He said the project was being implemented in 18 wards from four districts in the province and said the project was critical to address environmental challenges in dry areas, promoting sustainable land, forest management to enhance community resilience and support sustainable development.
“By promoting sustainable land management and sustainable forest management practices strengthening policy frameworks and enhancing community life-booms this program contributes significantly to the broader goals of land deforestation neutrality, climate adaptation and sustainable development,” said Chadzamira.
The project is being implemented in three wards in Bikita, two wards in Zaka, seven wards in Masvingo and six wards in Chivi Districts. The number of wards were reduced from nineteen to eighteen wards due to the changes that occurred during the delimitation exercise in 2023. Wards 24 and 27 in Bikita District were amalgamated into one ward
DSLIP program is being implemented in 11 countries across Southern Africa, East Africa and Asia and the focus is to restore degraded land, forests and support community livelihoods.
It is funded under the seventh cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF7) and it’s funded through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
