Green thumb meets grit: Bulawayo youth’s eco-innovation tackles unemployment, waste, and drought

Jabulile Siwela

Zimbabwe’s soaring unemployment rates have left many young people grappling with despair, poverty, and drug abuse. But in Bulawayo’s Sizinda suburb, 34 year-old Phathisani Vundla has turned hopelessness into innovation. Vundla, a creative and determined youth, is proving that climate challenges and unemployment can spark opportunity if met with courage and vision.

The effects of climate change are increasingly visible across Zimbabwe reduced rainfall, heatwaves, and recurrent El Niño–induced droughts have devastated traditional rain-fed agriculture. Faced with these realities, Phathisani decided to rethink farming. Instead of waiting for rain, he turned to climate-smart, technology-driven agriculture.

“I am the founder of Zambezi Eco Sprouts, an eco-innovation start-up turning waste plastic bottles into smart, organic aeroponic farming systems,” said Vundla in an interview with Matpulse.

What began as a desperate search for employment soon became a powerful movement for environmental sustainability. With plastic waste piling up in his community and food insecurity on the rise, Phathisani saw an opportunity to solve two problems at once.

“I was motivated by several problems,” he explained. “Being unemployed without capital I kept seeing in my community plastic waste piling up everywhere and rising food insecurity. I realized that instead of complaining, I could merge these two challenges into one solution. I wanted to prove that technology and sustainability don’t have to be expensive concepts — they can start from the ground up, even from a discarded bottle. That belief gave birth to Zambezi Eco Sprouts, where we literally grow food from waste.”

Phathisani’s aeroponic farming systems, made from recycled food-grade PET bottles, use nutrient-rich mist to grow crops without soil. Powered by solar energy, the systems are both affordable and sustainable. Each setup not only helps reduce plastic pollution but also produces fresh, chemical-free vegetables using a fraction of the water and space required by traditional farming. The semi-closed design minimizes water loss and nutrient runoff problems common in conventional agriculture.

“Our project promotes a food-secure nation by using solar-powered organic aeroponic farming to produce fresh, healthy food with minimal land, water, and resources,” said Vundla. “By repurposing plastic waste into productive growing systems, we tackle pollution while creating affordable food solutions for both urban and rural communities. This approach builds climate resilience, reduces import dependence, and increases local food availability, turning waste into opportunity and ensuring nutritious food for all. All genders, ages, and people in different locations can use this system.”

Starting a business in Zimbabwe’s volatile economy is no easy task. Inflation, limited access to capital, and bureaucratic hurdles make entrepreneurship a steep climb. Yet Phathisani’s grit and community spirit have kept him going.

“It was pure grit and determination,” he said. “Seeking advice from industry experts and reading materials. The project is not a solo journey the input from the community has been invaluable in making the project a success.”

That community-driven approach is paying off. Phathisani is not just cultivating crops; he is mentoring and empowering other youths to be self-sustainable and united in the collective effort to combat climate change.

“I have sold three systems and am now working on my fourth system. I have also mentored four youths who are now designing their own systems. Using the aeroponic farming system, I have harvested over 2,000 heads of lettuce and 800 spinach plants feeding my family and selling to the community,” he said.

For Phathisani, every plastic bottle tells a story of waste turned into worth, and of climate change met with creativity. “Every bottle repurposed is a bottle diverted from waterways, landfills, and animal habitats,” he said. “Every system is a story of hope that climate change is real, and we can all be part of the solution in different ways.”

As Zimbabwe faces a future of uncertain rainfall and growing food insecurity, innovators like Vundla are lighting the path forward. With his blend of environmental awareness, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment, he is proving that the green revolution can start right at home even with a single discarded bottle.