Matebeleland Pulse Reporter
Women and youth are emerging as key drivers of climate action in Matabeleland, leading efforts to adapt to worsening droughts and environmental challenges. During this week’s Weekly Pulse Discussion, climate advocate and diplomat Nozinhle Evelyn Gumede founder of Mainah Trust and a leading voice in youth-led environmental initiatives, shared insights on community-led adaptation and the growing leadership of women in climate resilience.
Gumede spoke about her journey into climate advocacy, describing how her passion was shaped by a deep personal connection to her community. “Honestly, my journey started from a place of deep love and concern for my community,” Gumede said. “I grew up seeing how droughts, erratic rainfall, and hunger affected families, especially women and small farmers in Matabeleland. I remember my grandmother, Mainah Phuti, who worked tirelessly to feed us even when the land was dry. She taught me resilience and compassion, and that became the heartbeat of Mainah Trust, which I founded in her honour.”
Founded in 2019, Mainah Trust works with rural communities, women, and youth to promote climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy solutions, and environmental education. Through its programmes, smallholder farmers are trained to adopt sustainable farming practices that improve yields while protecting the environment.
“We have also formed environmental clubs in schools across Bulawayo,” Gumede explained. “Young people learn about climate change through hands-on activities. For women, we run workshops that teach both climate adaptation and entrepreneurship, because resilience is also about economic independence. It’s been beautiful watching young people and women start their own small eco-projects and seeing communities become more confident in protecting their environment.”
Gumede noted that many communities in Matabeleland are creatively responding to the impacts of climate change. “The biggest challenges are drought, water scarcity, and crop failure,” she said. “Many families depend on rain-fed farming, and when the rains do not come, the entire community suffers. We all see this from the backyard gardens we have of chomolia and maize to community gardens and urban farming. But what is powerful is how people are adapting. I have seen women form small cooperatives to build water harvesting systems and youth groups starting solar irrigation and tree-planting projects. These may seem like small acts, but they are changing lives and building resilience from the ground up.”
Gumede emphasized that women are central to climate action yet still face significant barriers. “Women play a critical role in adaptation and green projects, but access to finance and resources remains limited,” she said. “Societal norms and lack of technical training often keep women from leading projects or being part of decision-making.”
She called for inclusive policies and targeted interventions that prioritise women’s access to funding, land, and technology, alongside mentorship and capacity-building initiatives. “When women are empowered and supported, they bring innovative, community-centred, and resilient solutions that benefit everyone,” Gumede said. “In Ndebele we say intandane enhle ngumakhothwa nguninaa child is well cared for by their mother. Women nurture communities and empowering them means empowering the nation.
In addition to her work with Mainah Trust, Gumede has also served as National Coordinator for Climate Live Zimbabwe, a role she is transitioning out of to focus on Mainah Trust. The initiative uses music and culture to raise awareness on climate change. “Music has a way of reaching people that facts alone cannot,” she noted. “We bring together artists, activists, and youth to spark conversations about climate change. Climate action is not just policy and science it’s also art, culture, and heart.”
For young Zimbabweans eager to act but unsure where to start, Gumede’s advice was practical and encouraging. “Start small… and start where you are,” she said. “You don’t need a big organisation to make a difference. It can be as simple as planting trees or joining a local clean-up campaign. Connect with others youth networks like YOUNGO or local environmental clubs.”
Gumede’s advocacy extends beyond Zimbabwe. As part of Earth Uprising’s Global Youth Leadership Council, she connects Zimbabwean youth experiences with global climate movements. “I use that space to share stories from rural communities that are often left out of the conversation,” she said. “It’s about making sure the world understands that climate change is not a distant issue it’s happening now in Africa.
Asked about future plans, Gumede said Mainah Trust aims to expand its climate education and youth empowerment programmes to more rural districts. “My legacy, I hope, will be one of empowerment and transformation,” she reflected. “That I helped build a generation of young Zimbabweans who do not wait for change but create it.”
