A high-level delegation comprising of representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the European Union (EU) recently visited the Makwara Village Business Unit (VBU) in Mbire District’s Ward 2 to assess progress made under the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund II project being implemented by DanChurch Aid (DCA) Zimbabwe in partnership with Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre.
The purpose of the monitoring visit was to evaluate project implementation, review the impact of interventions on the local community, and to engage directly with project participants to understand their experiences and challenges.
The Makwara Village Business Unit has not only become a model hub for agroecology-based rural development, but has integrating diverse income-generating activities that balance productivity, sustainability, and community empowerment.
Speaking during the engagements, the USHINGI Project Manager, Mr. Brighton Chiparaushe emphasized the importance of treating the VBU as a Business and not just as a garden to ensure productivity and sustainability within the Makwara Community.
“We should all strive to treat this Village Business Unit as a business and not merely as a garden,
“When we approach it as a business, we cultivate a mindset of ownership, accountability, and innovation, principles that ensure productivity and long-term sustainability for the Makwara community,” said Mr. Chiparaushe.
The donor visit was characterised by a tour of several project sites that demonstrates integrated agroecological practices some of which include the organic crop production based on soil health improvement and low-input farming methods, a thriving apiary project, where local farmers have been trained in beekeeping and honey processing for both income generation and ecosystem pollination benefits, as well as fisheries and hatchery system, established to provide alternative protein sources and sustainable livelihoods for the local community.
The visiting delegation commended FPC and DCA Zimbabwe for their integrated and participatory approach to rural development, highlighting how the Makwara VBU model aligns with Zimbabwe’s national strategies on climate resilience, sustainable food systems, and community-driven enterprise development.
“What we have witnessed here is a living demonstration of climate resilience in practice, the Makwara community has shown how innovation, partnerships, and local knowledge can drive sustainable transformation, our goal is to ensure such successes are replicated across more communities,” said Shupikai Zimuto the Project Coordinator for the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund at UNDP Zimbabwe.
Makwara farmers expressed deep gratitude to the donor partners UNDP, FAO, and the EU in partnership with DCA Zimbabwe and FPC for their invaluable investment in the community, highlighting that the support has indeed transformed their livelihoods through agroecology, creating new income opportunities and improving food security, the farmers pledged to sustain and grow the Village Business Unit as a thriving community enterprise for future generations.
