Latest news with #Kariba
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Lonehill Dam swaps green for red as new weed moves in
Lonehill Dam has been going through a bit of a colourful makeover. Just weeks after the green, choking Kariba weed was finally brought under control, a new invader, red fern, has crept onto the scene, turning concern into déjà vu for local officials and residents. The nine-week course, which started in May, to clear the water of Kariba weed using eco granules had shown real promise. 'The Kariba weed was pretty much under control,' said Ward 94 councillor David Foley. 'But we've got a new breed of weed, called red fern, that has decided to show its face here.' Once murky and green, the dam had recently become clearer, with fish and bird life returning and families beginning to look forward to a more inviting spring by the water, but now, with this fresh burst of weed growth, the dam's changing shades are raising fresh questions, and a bit of eyebrow-raising humour from residents. Also read: Lonehill Dam Kariba weed clean-up shows promising progress If the dam has gone from green to red, is it headed for orange next? Foley, however, isn't laughing. He said he's re-engaged Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, who previously brought in amphibious harvesters, to assess what can be done about the red fern. He's also reached out to eco-tab specialists, to investigate whether their purification methods can take on this new botanical challenge. Also read: Kariba weed came, saw, but didn't conquer Lonehill Dam Despite the setback, optimism remains. 'The dam is quite clear, with an abundance of fish and bird life. As soon as we get this under control, and with summer on its way, we're looking forward to spending a lot of time at the Lonehill Dam.' For now, Lonehill dam continues to change with the seasons and with the weeds. Whether it's green, red or something in between, the battle for balance in this beloved water body rolls on. City Parks' Noelene Mattera was reached out to for comment, and we will update as soon as it becomes available. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News24
03-07-2025
- Business
- News24
Zimbabwe has nationwide blackout as system failure cripples grid
Getty • For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. Zimbabwe suffered a countrywide electricity outage on Thursday due to a system failure that resulted in loss of generation at its two power stations. Electricity imports from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique were also interrupted, the national power utility, Zesa, said in an emailed statement. 'Restoration efforts are underway, and power has already been successfully restored to some areas,' the utility said. Teams are working to restore power to remaining areas 'in the shortest possible time,' it said. The southern African country generates electricity at Hwange Thermal Power Station, which has installed capacity of 1 500 megawatts, and the Kariba Hydro Power plant, with capacity of 1 050 megawatts.
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Kariba weed came, saw, but didn't conquer Lonehill Dam
It took Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) R300 000 and 20 days of hiring equipment to clean up the aggressive Kariba weed at Lonehill Dam. The staggering price included the equipment's operator and fuel. Councillor David Foley, from Ward 94, was onsite on June 6, with Rob van der Pauw, putting in more eco granules to ensure that the nine week project to rehabilitate the dam was not in vain. Wendell Africa, stakeholder from JCPZ doing oversight, was at the dam at the same time, and they could all see that the dam is no doubt getting better everyday. Foley said the eco tab granules will purify the water resulting in the reduction of nitrates that the Kariba weed feeds on. 'It breaks down the sludge at the base of the dam, purify the water so it becomes clearer.' Also read: Lonehill Dam breathes again after months being choked by Kariba weed He said the food source of the weed, as in the nitrates, will reduce and limit the growth of the weed, therefore it should die off over time. 'The ecosystem will recover. A good test will be when the frogs return, which means the environment is at a suitable level for nature to thrive. The cost of the eco tab granules will be determined by the success of the exercise, but should not be more than R50 000, as per the initial proposal submitted to JCPZ.' Kariba weed is a free-floating plant that does not attach to the soil; instead, it remains buoyant on the surface of a body of water. The fronds are 0.5–4cm long and broad, with a bristly surface caused by the hair-like strands that join at the end to form eggbeater shapes. Read more: Industrial harvester arrives to tackle Kariba weed at Lonehill Dam The plant has been hovering over the Lonehill Dam since November last year, and since then, experts and authorities have been splitting hairs about how to stop the invasive plant before it harms the fish in the dam. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Zawya
11-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Empowering voices, cultivating resilience: Farmer Field Schools transform lives in Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape
In Zimbabwe's Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and led by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project 'Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape' is unlocking the potential of local communities to lead the way in climate-smart agriculture and natural resources management. Shifting mindsets: From command to collaboration Simbarashe Kashiri, a young extension officer in Ward 4, Kariba shared how the training changed his outlook. 'I initially thought extension work was all about giving orders to farmers,' Simbarashe reflects. 'But now I understand the power of facilitation. In the Kujatana FFS group I helped establish, farmers are making their own decisions, and they're thriving.' That group, aptly named Kujatana (which means 'working together' in the local language), has 88 percent women, and is already reaping the rewards of collaboration. They are cultivating tomatoes and producing organic compost from goat manure using the Bokashi method - a climate-smart practice that enhances soil fertility while promoting food security and sustainable farming. Simbarashe's experience is just one among many inspired by the project's holistic, community-driven approach. Across nine wards in Kariba, 13 AGRITEX officers have been trained in the FFS model, resulting in the establishment of 12 Farmer Field Schools. More than just learning hubs, these schools are becoming spaces of empowerment, experimentation, and collective problem-solving, particularly for women and youth, who are leading the way in building local resilience. Linking local knowledge with strategic objectives The FFS approach not only improves local agricultural practices but also aligns with national and global sustainability targets. It supports FAO's Strategic Framework (2022–2031), which seeks to promote Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, leaving no one behind. 'This project contributes directly to FAO's Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement. The adoption of the Farmer Field School approach exemplifies how local innovation and empowerment are essential to achieving resilience and sustainable development,' said Alexander Carr the Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape, Project Coordinator. The project supports UN SDGs 1, 2, and 10, reinforcing the right to food, gender equality, and decent rural livelihoods. 'Particularly by advancing SDG Target 2.4 (sustainable food production systems) and promoting gender-sensitive value chains that create economic opportunities in rural areas,' asserted Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist. From chickens to chilies: Creating climate-smart livelihoods Through participatory processes involving over 240 farmers, seven climate-smart value chains were identified and analyzed: goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies. These value chains are being nurtured to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce environmental pressure, and increase household incomes. The promotion of these value chains reflects the project's broader vision: to create a landscape of resilience, where ecological conservation and human development go hand in hand. Alongside community empowerment, the project has laid a strong technical foundation for sustainable development. A high-resolution Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map was developed using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, and ecological connectivity for elephants was modelled to guide land planning. These tools are vital for aligning conservation priorities with local livelihoods. More than 20 institutional stakeholders, including local government, conservation agencies, traditional leaders, and NGOs were engaged in mapping and consultation processes. This level of participation is essential for ensuring community ownership and policy alignment. Collaboration for long-term impact The Sebungwe project is not a standalone effort. It builds upon previous work under the EU-funded SWM 2 initiative and integrates FAO's GEF-7 supported Integrated Landscape Planning Model. Together with partners such as Nyaminyami Rural District Council, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, African Parks, and Peace Parks, the project lays the groundwork for a comprehensive, coordinated resilience-building strategy in Zimbabwe. In addition, the project's success in integrating ecological and socio-economic priorities through land use planning, natural resources governance, and value chain development sets the stage for the larger European Union funded Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Phase 2 implementation. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Young Agricultural Extension Officer leads change in Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape
In Zimbabwe's Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place; driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Under the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project, 'Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape', supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, extension officers are being equipped with new tools to support climate-smart agriculture and local empowerment. Thirteen AGRITEX officers, across 9 wards were trained using the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, moving away from traditional top-down methods to a participatory model that empowers farmers to experiment, learn, and make their own decisions. For Simbarashe Kashiri, an AGRITEX officer just 18 months into his role in Kariba District's Ward 4, the shift from a traditional, top-down extension approach to the Farmer Field School (FFS) model was transformative. 'I initially thought the only method used in delivering information to farmers was the top-down method where the Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) makes all decisions and tells farmers what to do,' Kashiri recalls. 'But FFS training taught me about facilitation—where farmers are empowered to make their own decisions.' Inspired by the training, Simbarashe immediately formed the Kujatana Farmer Field School group, comprising 24 members - 88 percent of them women. Their group is now cultivating tomatoes and producing their own organic Bokashi compost using goat manure, enhancing soil fertility and building sustainable food systems from the ground up. Simbarashe's story is just one of many emerging from the project's holistic approach to resilience building. The 13 AGRITEX officers trained as FFS facilitators, helped to establish 12 Farmer Field Schools. These schools are not only technical training platforms but also spaces for empowerment, collective learning, and innovation—especially for women and youth. The FFS initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve natural resources management, promote climate-smart value chains, and strengthen resilience in vulnerable rural communities. Key value chains identified include goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies. 'This project contributes directly to FAO's Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement,' said Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist. With local ownership and strategic planning, Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape is on a path toward a more sustainable, resilient future. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
