By Tsitsi Ndawana
From the 29th of August to the 1st of September RWA Zimbabwe held its 9th annual national meeting which brought close to 4000 rural women together. The meeting was held at Hovano Secondary School, located in Gokwe district in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. In attendance were government officials from Ministries of Women Affairs, Lands and agriculture, Makoni Rural District Council, Councillors, Chiefs and Headmen, village heads, District Administrator, development partners, stakeholders from business community, rural women from 3 SRWA countries [ South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia], and women and men from the neighbouring wards.
The 9th national meeting was running the theme: “WOMEN AT THE FRONTLINE OF CLIMATE ACTION: A PATHWAY TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND BUILDING RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS”. Zimbabwe like any other countries is being affected by climate change and rural women bear the brunt most. The theme meant to provide space for women to share the experiences and alternatives in face of climate change, showcasing the critical role they play driving in climate action and building more resilient communities.
Annually RWA Zimbabwe holds a national meeting which is a safe platform for rural women to learn, share experiences and exchange knowledge. Additionally, this platform is also created for women to physically engage with policy makers and duty bearers presenting their issues and demanding and defending their rights (water, land, environment). This year 2024, women amplified their voices and demanded climate justice, made presentations to policy makers on corporate capture of indigenous seeds and food systems, demanded climate change funds and gender technologies that support them to cope with climate change.
The first day of the meeting had two sessions (morning and afternoon session). The morning session focused on discussion on 5 main topics which include :Climate Change – redefining regenerative agriculture, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) -the right to save seeds, multiply, recycle famer-based seeds and allow farmers to register and trade labelled traditional varieties, Treaties and Declarations focusing on UNDROP, Maputo and Malabo declarations feeding into Kampala Declaration, National Determined Contributions – contribution on agroecology by rural women ,Wellness (Menopause, safety nets for women and collective care), Dialogue on donkey welfare policy in Zimbabwe
The afternoon session was for a teach-in session, women were taught on different practicals they can embrace using their locally available resources. The sessions were also conducted using the World Café approach to make sure everyone had an opportunity to participate. The teach in practicals included: Agroecological way of making stock feed, controlling diseases and pests, Value addition (processing of farm produce and branding, pricing), Low-cost Solar Dryer making, Natural ways of improving soil fertility (Bokashi Making, Cow fertilisers, Lactobacillus, Fish Fertiliser), Mini Greenhouse demonstrations
The last day was policy day. Women had an opportunity to meet with policy makers and presented their issues and demanded climate justice, refusing false climate change solutions, increased access and ownership of land with water and they also demanded justice in fighting food imperialism and corporate capture of indigenous seeds.
Apart from the main event there was a farmers’ market which was running. Women brought a variety of produce (fresh and dried vegetables, tubers, grains, a variety of seeds, and a variety of value-added products). The farmers’ market also created an opportunity for learning, sharing and seed exchange as part of promoting growing of indigenous seeds and food. The meeting ended on a positive note with the policy makers, government stakeholders, local leadership, business community funding partners and RWA regional sisters commending RWA Zimbabwe for successfully hosting the 9th Annual National Meeting.
