News / National
Latest Matabeleland farm grabs affect widows' livelihoods
27 Jan 2015 at 22:56hrs | Views
The latest wave of farm grabs in Matabeleland South has an adverse effect on the livelihoods of widows who some of them have been employed in the farms and some have been running thriving sustainable projects jointly with the farm owners.
An investigation by Widows Empowerment Trust in Matobo has revealed that there is a significant number of widows that have benefited from the Maleme Ranch Out-growers Scheme run by Mr Peter Cunningham and if the government allows this farm to be grabbed these widows and their families will be left desperate and without any form of sustenance. "My husband died in 1986 and I have since then been surviving together with the Cunningham family through chicken projects we do with them. If you allow this farm to be taken by this government worker what are you saying about my life? What do you want me and my fellow widows who have been surviving to do? Where do you want us to go?" lamented one widow at the Chief Masuku homestead public meeting that was called by Matobo chiefs last week.
Widows Empowerment Trust is deeply concerned that the takeover of productive farms such as the Maleme Ranch in Matobo, the Figtree Centenary Farm owned by David Connolly and the Double O Ranch banana plantation in Beitbridge, will further worsen the plight of widows in Matabeleland South who were either employed in the farms, had their family members working in the farms or were doing projects supported by the farms.
Matabeleland South province is ranked as having the highest widowhood rate in Zimbabwe with the widows' population in the province recorded to be at 9, 8% in 2012 Census up from 4, 91% in the 2002 Census. In Matabeleland South Province the top five districts with the highest widowhood rates are Bulilima at 12,9%, Beitbridge Rural at 11,3%, Mangwe at 11, 1%, Gwanda Rural at 10,6% and Matobo at 10,4%.
Widows Empowerment Trust is committed to actively advocate for the rights of widows in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe.
An investigation by Widows Empowerment Trust in Matobo has revealed that there is a significant number of widows that have benefited from the Maleme Ranch Out-growers Scheme run by Mr Peter Cunningham and if the government allows this farm to be grabbed these widows and their families will be left desperate and without any form of sustenance. "My husband died in 1986 and I have since then been surviving together with the Cunningham family through chicken projects we do with them. If you allow this farm to be taken by this government worker what are you saying about my life? What do you want me and my fellow widows who have been surviving to do? Where do you want us to go?" lamented one widow at the Chief Masuku homestead public meeting that was called by Matobo chiefs last week.
Widows Empowerment Trust is deeply concerned that the takeover of productive farms such as the Maleme Ranch in Matobo, the Figtree Centenary Farm owned by David Connolly and the Double O Ranch banana plantation in Beitbridge, will further worsen the plight of widows in Matabeleland South who were either employed in the farms, had their family members working in the farms or were doing projects supported by the farms.
Matabeleland South province is ranked as having the highest widowhood rate in Zimbabwe with the widows' population in the province recorded to be at 9, 8% in 2012 Census up from 4, 91% in the 2002 Census. In Matabeleland South Province the top five districts with the highest widowhood rates are Bulilima at 12,9%, Beitbridge Rural at 11,3%, Mangwe at 11, 1%, Gwanda Rural at 10,6% and Matobo at 10,4%.
Widows Empowerment Trust is committed to actively advocate for the rights of widows in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe.
Source - Widows Empowerment Trust
