Zimbabwe: A Story of Transformation in Ward 14, Umguza

Councillor Delay Ncube, is a young leader with a professional background in Development Studies awarded by Lupane State University. He is currently serving as the Councillor for Ward 14 in Umguza Rural District Council, Matabeleland North. He leverages on his education and experience to push for gender mainstreaming, social inclusion, and promoting equity. Driven by these values, he initiated the establishment of Alicedale Community Irrigation Project, a community led initiative aimed at empowering the most vulnerable in Nyamandlovu,  

 Nyamandlovu community faced significant socio-economic challenges where out of 45 households, only 12 households came together to form a cooperative. Furthermore, a significant number of members had survived gender based violence, while others struggled with substance abuse. Councillor Delay Ncube noted that domestic violence and petty theft were common, especially on paydays. This promoted him to organise for sustainable livelihoods and created a structured platform for empowerment, aiming to provide a safe, inclusive space where women, youth, and disabled persons.  

 The project began in 2013, with community members contributing their own funds to establish a life changing venture. Councillor Ncube advocated for support which he secured from the Ministry of Agriculture in the form of a starter package of seeds, mechanization equipment, and a loan facility. The community of Nyamandhlovu established a cooperative which ventured into wheat and tobacco production leveraging on the mechanization and irrigation facilities. Key interventions included farmer training programs on irrigation management and modern agricultural practices, infrastructure development such as water distribution systems and solar-powered boreholes.  

 “I'm proud of the change in our children; they now value their future more than alcohol.”  Thabani Nyoni. The project has transformed lives in multiple dimensions where members earn steady income from crop sales enabling them to pay school fees and meeting household needs. Families and community members work together, restoring family values and reducing crime. The training programs improved agricultural, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills, while young people and women actively participated in cooperative management and decision-making. There was job creation at local level for the tractor driver position, bookkeeper, and general hands at the cooperative. The solar-powered borehole supplies water for a nutrition garden, improving food security. Additionally, drought-resilient practices such as digging field trenches have helped trap water, mitigating flash floods and improving soil moisture for crops.  

 To ensure long-term impact, Councillor Ncube and the cooperative have prioritized strong community ownership, ongoing training and capacity building, establishing a cooperative governance framework for financial and operational management, diversification of crops and additional income-generating activities. The promotion of and building market linkages, continuous knowledge sharing became the anchor for future developments. The cooperative developed a Standard Operating Procedure manual to guide and regulate the operations of the entity and improve on the accountability and transparency of operations. 

 The Alicedale Community Irrigation project has resulted in increased crop yields and agricultural productivity, improved household income, nutrition, and educational outcomes, enhanced social cohesion, reduced substance abuse, empowerment of women, youth, and job creation. The project is more than just a farming initiative; it is a vehicle for transformation, turning victims into leaders, despair into hope, and a marginalized community into a thriving, resilient one.

By: Delay Ncube