Category: Climate & Health

How a Community Seed Bank is Helping Binga Villagers Beat Drought

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Binga Just like most parts of the country, Binga villages are preparing their land for the forthcoming 2025/26 agricultural season. The clanging of hoes against dry earth echoes across the fields as farmers race the sun to prepare their land. At one homestead, Vivian Saba greets us with a warm smile, accompanied by her mother. Vivian volunteers as treasurer of the community seed bank, an innovative seed preservation facility designed to ensure farmers have access the best-suited seeds for their environment. A few minutes later, she…

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When the River Found Its Way Into Simwenge, Binga

Michael Gwarisa
Women collecting water from the Simwenge water point in Binga, Zimbabwe, using buckets and jerrycans

By Michael Gwarisa Some years ago, a borehole drilling company struck water in Simwenge Village under Chief Siansundu in Binga, sparking celebrations across the community. But the joy was short-lived. The water was hot and salty, likely the result of hitting a natural hot spring. Even after the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) intervened in 2023 to rehabilitate the borehole, the problem persisted, leaving the community in ongoing water distress. The old borehole served 93 households but frequently broke down due to the high temperature of the water. “The water…

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Fruit Trees and Textbooks: A Community’s Dual Fight for Growth

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Under the blazing Hatcliffe sun on the outskirts of Harare, a resilient community keeps growing against all odds. Among its youngest members is Ruvimbo, a Grade 5 pupil whose dreams take root in both soil and study. For her, a brighter future begins with education. Each day, she walks to school — now closer to home after transferring from Hatcliffe 2 Primary. On this sunny Monday morning, she kneels beside a Rotary Club Msasa member to plant a tree. As they chat, she opens up about her…

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WCOZ Hosts Indaba to Unpack Climate Change Management Bill

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ) last week convened a high-level indaba in Harare to deliberate on the proposed Climate Change Management Bill, a piece of legislation that seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for Zimbabwe’s response to climate change. The gathering brought together civil society, legal experts, government stakeholders and grassroots representatives to scrutinise the bill with a particular focus on its gender implications. Speaking at the indaba, Caroline Mutimbanyoka said the coalition’s interest in the bill was rooted in the reality that women and girls…

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Zim Commissions Modern Incinerator to Manage Medical Waste and Fight Climate Change

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere At a time when medical waste is being cited as one of the major contributors to climate change, Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora and Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Neale Richmond, commissioned a state-of-the-art incinerator at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. The incinerator was installed by BoltGas with funding from the Global Fund. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) served as the implementing partner for the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Speaking after the commissioning of…

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The Hidden Health Toll of Urban Heat: Africa’s Concrete Jungles and the Rise of Climate-Sensitive Diseases

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Africa is battling a number of adverse climatic catastrophes, and over the past five years, climate change is no longer a distant threat across the continent. In African cities, it has become an everyday reality, intensifying urban heat and deepening public health risks. Rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and shrinking green spaces are combining to create “concrete jungles,” densely built environments where heat becomes trapped and air pollution festers. According to experts, this urban heat effect, worsened by poor ventilation and limited vegetation, is now driving a rise…

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Ministry of Environment Hosts Climate Mainstreaming Workshop for Staff

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife has hosted a one-day workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of its staff to mainstream climate change into development plans and budgetary processes. The training comes as Zimbabwe continues implementing its National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process, which commenced in 2019 with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The workshop was financed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Zimbabwe. Officiating at the event, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba underscored the urgent need…

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Regional Students Gather in Zimbabwe for SAYWHAT Conference on SRHR, Climate Change, and Public Health Solutions

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Students from various institutions across the SADC region have gathered in Zimbabwe for the SAYWHAT 3rd Research Indaba and the 14th Students Conference. The event has brought together young researchers presenting studies on climate change, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and tuberculosis. An official from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Development called on institutions to inspire and support students committed to addressing public health challenges. Youth-led research projects not only provide valuable data but also ensure that solutions are relevant…

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One Health and Climate: Dr. Onyango Speaks On Transforming Africa’s Health Resilience

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In 2024, African health ministers adopted a 10-year framework to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems across the continent. This framework aims to guide World Health Organization (WHO) African region member states in translating global climate and health initiatives into concrete, actionable steps at the country level. For over a decade, the WHO has collaborated with member states and partners on policies and research initiatives to strengthen multisectoral efforts on health and environmental issues in Africa. These initiatives focus on creating strategies and frameworks that address the…

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Inaugural Climate and Health Conference Rallies Africa To Take Action Against Climate-Induced Health Threats

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Although Africa contributes less than 4% of global carbon dioxide emissions, it faces some of the harshest impacts of climate change on health and the environment, leaders at the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC2024) have stated. Public health data shows that Africa is experiencing numerous climate-linked health hazards more than other regions in the world. This largely has to do with an already weakened health system and the absence of reliable early warning systems amongst a host of other factors. According to the World Health…

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