Masango watches as his chickens feed. The dream is to have about 500 chickens by May 2022. This demonstration chicken project is sustainable, easier and cheaper to run for local farmers. Chickens are a good source of proteins and household income.

The Chicken Development Project

HPDZ intends to demonstrate to the Nyazura community that it is possible to raise local chickens at a larger scale because they require less money, consume food from locally grown grains and are resistant to common chicken diseases. The market for these so-called “Road-Runners” is readily available locally as both young chicks (2-3 months) as well as adults. The hens lay a maximum of 20 eggs before sitting on them for incubation, a process that takes three months. One hen can be allowed to have three hatchings before being released to return to egg laying three weeks later. Their main disadvantage is that they take 6 months to mature. This limitation can be overcome by the concept of “economies of scale.” The bigger the number of chickens the greater the returns. Masango is aiming at raising between 500-1000 chickens in twelve months from May 2021. In order to prevent diseases, the project will combine the use of traditional herbal and modern medicines. The target of the demonstration project are young people who are leaving the farming communities for urban areas in search of employment. Unfortunately, there are not many employment opportunities for these mostly unskilled young men and women.

Future Plans

The following are my future plans with HPDZ:

1. Grow organic garlic up to 3 hectares starting small this February 2021. Seed supplier, market and irrigation water already guaranteed.

2. Start drying vegetables using traditional methods till a suitable solar dryer is in place. Drying to begin with the popular herbal tea leaves (Zumbani).

3. Develop the Land which I received as a gift from the village chief for proper agricultural production starting 2021.

4. Develop a plan for water distribution from the borehole.

5. To teach local farmers in growing trees from seeds and cuttings for employment creation and reduce the impact of climate change.

6. To create an economic environment through the irrigation system by providing a market for cattle manure and employment for local residents who provide labor in sowing, watering, hand weeding and harvesting of garlic/other crops.

Prayer and Praise Items

1. Praise God for the good start of the farming season as more than normal rainfall pours down and praying for an end to hunger.

2. Pray that we could secure a solar dryer.

3. Praying for spiritual revival in Nyazura and Zimbabwe for community and national transformation.

4. Pray that we get Shona language Bibles for the members who have no Bibles although they can read.

5. Thanking and Praising God for Munashe who has completed her first year and has started second year in University.

6. Praying that Bernice pass her Seventh-Grade examination in preparation to join High School in January 2021.

One of the most shocking realities of life in Nyazura community is lack of forests and fruit trees. The reason for these challenges is mainly that people have embraced tobacco farming and so cut down trees for curing without replanting them. I have developed a rare passion to plant fruit and other trees in order to replace those cut down and provide a model for a transformed community not only economically but also environmentally.

The borehole was drilled in October. What was remaining was having a 500-liter plastic tank, a four-meter-high metal tank stand, solar panels, solar powered water pump and having the different parts connected and be able to draw some water from the 50 m deep well.

On the 25th of November we erected the tank stand and a day later lifted up the tank, solar stand and installed the water pumping system. Everything worked perfectly well. Some community men came to assist the installation as their families will be fetching some water for domestic use from this borehole.

Dear Friends and Co-Laborers in Christ,

I am forever deeply thankful to God for the generous food relief support received from HPDZ friends that helped Nyazura residents feed their families.

The 2020-2021 farming season has started with great promise of the end of drought in Nyazura. This follows the unexpectedly more rains that poured down on 11-12 October. I took a risk and planted the earliest corn, having fenced out my piece of land to keep goats and cattle out. The corn germinated but the sun started burning and continued till November 22nd. I had to resort to watering my corn using a bucket and cup to survive the scorching heat. It paid off as I managed to save 99% of my corn which is now doing very well to the envy of the whole village. It taught me one invaluable lesson that in order to end hunger and food insecurity in Zimbabwe, communities do not need just access to drinking water but also to irrigation water. As long as small-scale farmers depend on rainwater alone, hunger shall continue to be entrenched as droughts are recurring more than expected. Praise God for the new borehole and the potential for future irrigation!

Zimbabweans are not only experiencing hunger and food insecurity but are also experiencing a second wave of Covid 19 outbreak. However, it is a miracle that the numbers of infected and dying remain relatively less than expected considering the bad state of our medical infrastructure.

Faced with the double challenges of Covid 19 uncertainty and food insecurity, people’s trust in God has not dwindled. Many are turning to God for hope.

This newsletter gives an update on the borehole drilled and the setting up of a tank and tank stand, solar powered submersible pump and solar panels, the Solar vegetable/fruit dryer, promotion of peace, tree planting and the Nyazura Church as well as plans for the future.