04/08/2025
"MASIBINTA WETLAND IS OUR LIFE"
How a Revived Ecosystem is Transforming the Life of a Girl Child in Binga, ZImbabwe
For decades, many girls and youth with disabilities in Binga have struggled to stay in school, meet basic needs, and realise dreams. However, the restoration of Masibinta Wetland has rewritten that story. With support from the GGEF Small Grants Programme implemented by SEWA under the , the once-degraded wetland is now a green lifeline for dozens of young people.
One young girl from Manjolo village (name withheld), standing confidently in a lush field of green vegetables, is among the many whose lives have been transformed.
“Water has improved,” she shares with a proud smile. “I’m cultivating vegetables and selling them to locals, restaurants, and people travelling by public transport. The market is huge. I’ve been able to buy what I want without asking anyone for help, things like clothes and books for my siblings.”
Her words carry more than economic relief; they reflect a reclaiming of dignity. Where girls once missed school due to a lack of resources, they are now growing income from the soil beneath their feet. Where youth once saw a dying wetland, they now see possibility.
The revival of Masibinta Wetland was not accidental. It came about through community-led action: fencing vulnerable areas, restoring water flow, and introducing agroecological practices such as conservation agriculture and organic composting. SEWA, together with the government stakeholders such as ARDAS, EMA, Forestry Commission, ZimParks, BRDC, and others, educated wetland users on sustainable land use, giving them the knowledge to protect their resource for generations.
“We had lost hope that our wetland was ever going to come back to life again,” the young farmer reflects. “Thanks to SEWA and all those working with it for helping us to resuscitate our only hope for the future.”
Her call to action is clear and passionate:
“To my fellow youth, our wetland is not just a resource. It’s our life. Without it, our lives are nothing. Let’s guard it jealously. Never again should we push it to extremes”
Her story shows that wetlands have become a classroom, a bank, and a beacon of self-reliance in the district. As Binga confronts the realities of climate change and economic challenges, the revival of wetlands must be a top priority to build the much-needed climate adaptation and resilience for all.
The voice of this young girl is a reminder to us all:
Protecting wetlands is about justice, opportunity, and hope for the next generation.
UUnited Nations Convention to Combat DesertificationUUNDP ZimbabweKKalulu Mumpande EEnvironmental Management Agency
