Parched hopes
Navigating the drought crisis in Mpanshya village, Zambia
Rufunsa district, Lusaka province, Zambia, April 2024 --- In the heart of Rufunsa district lies the serene village of Mpanshya, in Lusaka province. This is one of the 84 drought-affected districts, and one of the 8 districts currently facing severe drought classified as food insecurity IPC-4 phase. This means many members of this community have emergency-level lack of food requiring immediate assistance. Recently, I had the humbling opportunity to visit this village and meet its remarkable traditional leader, whose unwavering dedication to her community is nothing short of inspiring. As we sat under the shade of a towering “Mukole” tree (African Bubble Gum), she shared with me her firsthand account of the devastating impact of the El Nino climate change phenomenon on her village, affecting the lives of children and their families in many different ways. This encounter opened my eyes to the resilience and spirit of the people of Mpanshya, as they face the harsh realities brought forth by a changing climate, their determination to thrive against all odds unyielding.
I'm profoundly distressed by the realization that within my chiefdom, there seems to be no one to bear the fruits of this year's arduous farming endeavors. It is with a heavy heart that I contemplate the agonizing plight already engulfing my community.
Mpanshya village is a close-knit community comprising over 600 individuals. The majority of its members make their living as subsistence farmers, with maize being their primary crop. Unfortunately, their agricultural practices heavily rely on rainfall, making them susceptible to the adverse effects of its absence. As a result, families typically supplement their diets with various crops such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, ground nuts, beans, and an assortment of vegetables. Regrettably, the scarcity of rains not only affects the maize harvest but also limits the availability of these supplementary crops. This predicament poses an immense challenge for families, as they have no viable alternatives to offset the shortfall in their staple maize supply.
Prisca Tembo, a mother of two children, has expressed her deep anxieties regarding feeding her little ones amidst the ongoing drought. "Feeding my children has become incredibly challenging," she shared, "as there is no other food available, except for porridge, which isn't enough to provide them with three meals a day."
Headwoman Induna Regina is not only concerned about the crop failure in the fields of her community members, but she also has other concerns.
The impact of the relentless drought on our underground water recharge systems cannot be overstated. Regrettably, we are left with no alternative but to implement water rationing. In order to sustainably accommodate the needs of all, our mothers can now only draw water once a day, thereby ensuring equitable distribution. Unfortunately, as the water table recedes further into the boreholes, the pumping process has grown increasingly time-consuming.
In Mpanshya village, women actively participate in community clubs that operate savings groups and offer loans to empower fellow women. Additionally, the Community Resource Board (CRB) plays a crucial role by assessing households in need and providing them with annual cash support ranging from (ZMW500/$20 to ZMW1000/$40) per household, depending on their vulnerability and size of the household. The CRB has also facilitated the drilling and construction of the only borehole in the village, which serves as their primary water source.
Induna Regina is deeply committed to seeking solutions for her community. She actively organizes fellow traditional leaders, working alongside them to devise strategic responses to the drought crisis and provide support to the most vulnerable members of her community. Her primary concerns lie with the well-being of children, as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. In her relentless efforts, she has even collaborated with the Zambia National Service through the District Commissioner, successfully coordinating the collection and transportation of bags of mealie meal from the capital Lusaka to ensure timely food supplies reach households in need.
"For households unable to afford a 25kg bag of mealie meal, pooling resources with another household to share the expense becomes necessary. Consequently, most families will be restricted to a solitary meal per day," she explained.
Thanks to the support from Government and partners, communities like the one in Mpanshya have established supporting mechanisms such as the village banking group of which she is a member. This association has granted her a loan to establish a small shop, enabling her to sell groceries and support her fellow community members. Alongside this, programmes such as Agora and SCRALA, a project implemented by the Zambian Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, with funding from the Green Climate Fund and support by the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Food Programme, the project targets vulnerable smallholder farmers at risk of being left behind, such as women, the youth, persons with disabilities and the elderly. SCRALA has diligently educated her community on the significance of conservation farming. These initiatives are playing an important role in building resilience and are helping community members to cope with the emergency. Community members who used the conservation farming methods taught under the SCRALA programme expect some harvest, albeit less than half the previous season’s harvest. However, due to the current drought and lost crops, Induna Regina called out for additional support as more water points are needed.
By enabling the irrigation of diverse crops, these additional water sources would not only bring a glimmer of hope to this community but also provide a lifeline for sustenance in such trying times.
After the Government of Zambia declared the drought situation as a national disaster, United Nations representatives gathered to meet with Government officials and local partners actively involved in addressing the drought. They also took the opportunity to listen to the communities in Mpanshya village. UNICEF, alongside other UN agencies, is working in collaboration with the Government to provide support in response to the crisis.
The United Nations in Zambia has put together a multi-hazard preparedness and response plan to support Government-led efforts and is calling upon international partners to join forces with the UN to be able to provide emergency assistance and boost preventive measures and sustainable recovery.
