Struggling Against El Niño: Families in Zimbabwe Battle Drought

In Buhera district, Zimbabwe, the lives of two families, Patricia Manjengwa (64) and Emeline Kichimani’s (59), intertwine amidst the relentless grip of the El Nino-induced drought, painting a heartbreaking narrative of resilience and struggle in the face of adversity.

Patricia, a mother of four children from Kangai Village Ward 19, vividly describes their daily battle against hunger and scarcity.

"We used to eat three meals a day before the drought hit us hard. Now, we are only having a single meal in the evening, and trying to make it last at the same time," she said.

“This has affected us a lot, and my children’s weight has even decreased. I am praying to God that they will not get sick.”

With mealie-meal prices soaring beyond reach, costing a staggering US$8.00, Patricia's family turns to the forest for wild fruits to eat during the day, a bittersweet reminder of their new reality. This has also changed their diet as a family, with the children facing a risk of malnutrition.

Echoing her sentiments, Emeline, a mother of six from Madanhi village in the same ward, shares her family's struggle with dwindling resources and disappearing water sources;

"Our children are suffering the most. Going to school hungry affects their learning," she reveals, her voice filled with concern for their future.

“Every day you go to sleep and wake up the next morning with a lot of stress, thinking about the next meal that you are going to give to your children. It is really tough.”

 The once-thriving fields that sustained them now stand as a barren testament to the harsh impact of the drought. These families used to survive on farming but the El Nino induced drought has affected their yields.

The dry spell caused by the drought has led to the wilting of all the crops that they were looking forward to harvest.

 “We used to survive on the maize from our fields, and after a good harvest, we would save some for consumption and sell some so that we can buy other necessities but now we don’t know what we are going to do,” said Emeline. 

As these families navigate the unforgiving terrain of the drought-stricken landscape, their stories resonate as a powerful plea for aid and solidarity. "We are on the brink of desperation," Emeline confides, her eyes reflecting a mix of resilience and fear. Patricia, too, adds, "We are trying our best, but we cannot do it alone."

 As the El Nino drought continues its unyielding march, the voices of Patricia, Emeline, and countless others serve as a reminder of the indomitable will to survive against all odds, their tales weaving a tapestry of hope and resilience in the face of nature's wrath.