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Oxfam in Zimbabwe

A woman collects water from an Oxfam rehabilitated borehole in Kotwa. Photo: Robin Hammond

From our staff

Page Tariro Mavi, Public Health Co-ordinator

 The biggest success I've seen in our programme was seeing people turn around a project that began by providing an emergency water supply, and turning into a project which enabled the local community to earn an income.

Initially, a borehole was drilled at a school to provide clean water during the cholera epidemic of 2008. Since then, however, the school has managed to construct a greenhouse which is providing enough tomatoes to generate on average $1,000 after harvest - funds which are then channelled to develop the school and maintain the water point. It's like a huge pat on the back for our project!


Full details of what Oxfam is doing in Zimbabwe (PDF, 290KB)

In 2010-11 Oxfam helped:

550,000
people in
Zimbabwe

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Snapshot of Oxfam in Zimbabwe

Photo 1/10 photo by: Annie Bungeroth

After years of political, economic and social turmoil, the Zimbabwean economy has begun to stabilise with food and other basic commodities now available. Yet high prices mean that people in rural areas still can’t afford food and unpredictable rains have made it harder to grow crops. Here, Ipaishe Masvingise prepares to water her crop of wheat using water from an irrigation scheme developed by Oxfam.

  • After years of political, economic and social turmoil, the Zimbabwean economy has begun to stabilise with food and other basic commodities now available. Yet high prices mean that people in rural areas still can’t afford food and unpredictable rains have made it harder to grow crops. Here, Ipaishe Masvingise prepares to water her crop of wheat using water from an irrigation scheme developed by Oxfam.
  • Around 1.2 million Zimbabweans are living with HIV. Raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, and providing support to those that have been affected by the virus is another important element of our work. This has included setting up drama groups to communicate about HIV and AIDS through traditional song, dance, poetry and plays.
  • Another element of our livelihoods work has included distributing goats bought through Oxfam Unwrapped to vulnerable families. "I got one goat and it gave birth twice, two kids each time," explains Lillian Pedzisa. I was identified by the community because of my sickness – I have HIV. It's very helpful because I'm now able to buy school fees, food and cooking oil."
  • When Zimababwe was hit by a severe food crisis in late 2008, Oxfam responded quickly to distribute food rations with the World Food Programme to 253,000 people in Midlands province. We also helped set up nutritional gardens to provide communities with vegetables. Our team trains regularly to be prepared in the event of another humanitarian crisis or natural disaster.

The impact of our work

 I have a good crop because I worked hard to remove stones, watering, ploughing, ridging, fertilising and planting. I have never had a crop like this in my entire life. I work in this field together with my wife and the last of my ten children. With the money from this crop I want to build a new house and buy more cattle.


Tirivashe Dzivakwe, farmer