BY NYASHA DUBE
Women in Zvishavane and Mberengwa have appealed to responsible stakeholders for assistance in coming up with sustainable adaptation strategies, saying the burden of climate change is weighing heavily on them.
The two areas which have been experiencing a shift in weather patterns over the past few years, are prone to prolonged dry spells and high temperatures.
The areas are also experiencing massive land degradation, siltation of rivers, pollution, and deforestation due to artisanal mining which have since increased as households have opted to join the extractive sector as a means of survival.
In an interview with Women’s Weekly Journal, some of the women said climate change has increased their responsibilities and work load, and they have little time to venture in developmental projects.
“Our main challenge is water crisis as a result of inconsistent and delayed rains. Most water sources have dried up and this has increased the distance we have to travel to fetch water for domestic use,” said one Tsungirirai Mhlanga from Mberengwa.
She added that water sources are very few in the area.
“We have few boreholes and this is affecting production. Irrigation is no longer as effective because of water shortages,” she said.
Mhlanga also cited poor harvests, poverty and economic decline among others, as as some of the effects of climate change which have a direct bearing on women.
Women as the primary care givers have become more vulnerable to climate change as their roles and responsibilities have increased, especially those in remote areas.
Climate change induced migration of men has forced women to assume roles such as ox-drawn farming and cattle herding, leaving them with little or no time to venture in business or career.
Poverty and declining standards of living have also led to family disintegration thereby stressing the woman even more.
Elina Ncube from Mazvihwa in Zvishavane says they are experiencing food shortages due to poor yields.
“We have tried to venture into livestock rearing but the projects are being affected by shortage of water and livestock feed,” she said.
Ncube added that efforts to improve yields through employing farming techniques such as pfumvudza could be futile if not managed well.
“We do welcome the pfumvudza concept but it could fail to produce the expected outcome because of its labour intensive nature, extremely high temperatures and lack of adequate inputs,” said Ncube.
Women in mining also say they have not been spared by the effects of climate change.
Sophie Takuva, a female small scale miner and member of Zvishavane Women in Mining said climate change risks may impact workforce availability, economic growth and social development in mining communities, and this can in turn jeopardize mining operations and reputations in areas that are sensitive to a changing climate.
“Mining infrastructure is vulnerable to changes in climate and weather, it has the potential to affect mining tunnels , buildings and built structures, tailings and water retention structures,” said Takuva.
She added that climate change is affecting transportation routes such as bridges and pipelines, mining infrastructure containment facilities, buildings, energy sources, mine site drainage infrastructure, mine processes that are highly dependent on water, and this could lead to closure of mines.
“Climate change would increase income inequalities and women are mostly affected due to the already existing gender inequality gap,” Takuva said.
Meanwhile, community based organisations challenged government and responsible stakeholders to assist women in coming up with adaptation strategies.
Millicent Nhutsve from Hands of Hope Trust said there is need for capacity strengthening workshops where women can be taught how to adapt to climate change.
“These workshops will teach women to focus more on drought resistant crops such as small grains that do not require much effort and inputs.Let’s also encourage women to form ward/village committees that monitor environmental activities such as mining and river bank cultivation to prevent land degradation,” said Nhutsve.
She also highlighted the need to lobby stakeholders and the Ministry of Environment to conduct awareness programs on the effects of land degradation to people and livestock and to advocate for the refilling of abandoned mining shafts that pose danger to women looking for firewood and children herding cattle.