Farmers start preparing for dry season

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Farmers in Bulilima are seized with gathering hay and maize stalks to avert an impending drought crisis attributed to the effects of climate change. Over a thousand cattle and donkeys in the district succumbed to the effects of the El Nino induced drought last year. The shortage of water and…

Small scale miners struggling to adhere to COVID-19 regulations

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Some small scale mining companies are seemingly struggling to adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions at a time when positive cases are on the rise. These revelations came after a snap survey conducted by Habakkuk Trust in Bubi and Umzingwane Districts to ascertain COVID-19 compliance in the sector. Habakkuk Trust has noted…

Justice in traditional courts put on hold

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The Covid-19 pandemic has placed the justice system in limbo as traditional courts remain closed in response to the global pandemic. Traditional leaders play a key role in dispute resolution and enabling access to justice for rural communities.  Traditional leaders who spoke to Habakkuk Trust recently said they have been postponing…

Villagers stranded with medication

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Antiretroviral drugs are reportedly piling up in rural areas as parents are failing to send the critical drugs to their children and grandchildren in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana due to the COVID-19 lockdown.  ARVs are used in combating HIV and AIDS by reducing multiplication virus thereby managing the viral load…

Food aid transport fee, a burden to the vulnerable

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Rural communities in Matabeleland have expressed concerns over the transport costs incurred in receiving food handouts from Social Welfare. According to reports obtained from Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Teams, beneficiaries of the food aid are required to pay costs towards the transportation of maize. Despite the declaration of drought as a…

Rural communities struggle to adhere to lockdown funeral limits

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COVID-19 has brought significant changes in the culture and lifestyle of rural communities. The pandemic has changed the way in which people mourn and bury their loved ones as only a limited number is allowed to attend funerals.  The regulations put in place to curb the spread of the virus…

Illegal entry points a cause for concern

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Illegal entry points along the Zimbabwe-Botswana Boundary line in Bulilima may result in the unchecked community spread of Covid-19. Villagers who are engaged in menial jobs as maids and herd boys in villages in the neighbouring country are reportedly trickling back through these points.  Villagers in Bulilima Ward 10 have…

Village health workers lack personal protective equipment

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Village health workers who are also engaged in disseminating information on the novel coronavirus in rural Matabeleland are at risk of infection as they perform their primary health role with limited personal protective equipment. These essential service providers have been playing a pivotal role in bridging the information gap that exists in…

Communities applaud village health workers

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Village Health Workers (VHWs) continue to champion the fight against COVID-19 in most parts of rural Matabeleland. These brave men and women have kept communities abreast with key information on the novel Coronavirus. When the government declared COVID-19 as a formidable epidemic leading to a national lockdown, village health workers came in…

Transport nightmares in rural communities

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Citizens in some rural communities are stranded and unable to travel to attend any emergencies as a result of the government ban on public transport operations. Commuter omnibuses remain prohibited from operating under lockdown regulations stipulated in S.I 99 of 2020.  The impact of travel restrictions has been felt deeply…