Back to Index

Income generating projects in Muzarabani and Gokwe
Heal Zimbabwe Trust
October 26, 2010

The Government should take full responsibility of the families of those who were killed, injured or disappeared during the political violence period and provide for the sustenance and welfare of their relatives.

In fulfilment of Resolution VI of the 20 September 2010 Heal Zimbabwe Survivors Summit, Harare, Heal Zimbabwe has started working with families, which fell victim to political violence in the post 29 March period in Muzarabani and Gokwe, in a capacity building project which seeks to restore the widows and their families' full economic and social function. The families have started with low cost small livestock, gardening and poultry projects. Muzarabani and Gokwe residents depend on seasonal cotton production and small livestock for their livelihoods.

Through a survey conducted by the organisation in June 2010 during the memorial services, about 105 children of victims of political violence had dropped out of school in Muzarabani district alone. Houses were destroyed, sources of livelihoods were interrupted. The capacity building project seeks to restore the families' capacity to fend for themselves. The project comes against the background of no known government effort to prosecute perpetrators of political violence a move which has left victims still traumatised and fearful of further revictimisation.

A preliminary meeting was held with each and every family member inquiring on how best they can be assisted and 90% of them highlighted that they required goat rearing projects as the animals do well in the dry area of Muzarabani and in Gokwe some stated that they needed gardening, some poultry and some goat rearing projects. Each family was given eight goats and chemicals to ensure the stock grows and multiplies where they will be sold and the family can sustain itself.

From the projects, beneficiaries are expected to pass on some of the proceeds to other victims of political violence as a way of promoting community cohesion. Many victims are failing to make ends meet as most of them had their source of livelihood destroyed during the violence period and little has been done by either the pepretrators or the Government as restitution.

Heal Zimbabwe will also carry out the programme in other areas most hit by political violence namely Zaka, Headlands, Rusape, Mutoko and Mwenezi as this will boost the welfare of the victims and assist them in regaining confidence with the hope of encouraging them to participate in the next elections without fear of victimisation as it is their democratic right to vote.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP