Water harvesting key to resilience as farmers face unpredictable 2025–2026 season

Matebeleland Pulse Reporter

Zimbabwean farmers and urban residents have been urged to adopt water harvesting practices to strengthen resilience against recurring water shortages and adapt to increasingly unpredictable climate patterns.

This call came out during a recent Weekly Pulse WhatsApp discussion titled “Harnessing the Rains to Combat Climate Change: Smart Water Harvesting Techniques,” hosted by Matpulse. The session featured Munesuishe Chiveso, Secretary General and Co-founder for Climate Control. The conversation highlighted the critical paradox that despite current national dam levels being high, access to water remains a major constraint for communities.

Chiveso began the discussion by highlighting the gap between national water reserves and household access, particularly in urban areas. “As of late October 2025, Zimbabwe’s dams and water reserves were77% full, which is above the usual 64.6% for this time of year,” he noted.

However, despite these strong national reserves, infrastructure bottlenecks limit delivery. Chiveso pointed out that water utility services are severely constrained: “For example in Harare, in urban areas, ZINWA is pumping 400 megalitres a day against the 1,200 megalitres required, leaving residents, especially farmers, to rely heavily on rainwater.”

Given this reliance, water harvesting defined as “catching and saving rainwater from roofs, ground surfaces, or runoff areas so that it can be used during dry periods, “offers a practical and necessary solution as the country prepares for a farming season marked by unpredictable weather.

Chiveso emphasized that for Zimbabwe, water harvesting is not optional but a climate-adaptation necessity. “Water harvesting is part of the country’s adaptation strategy. It helps communities survive erratic rains, especially as we enter the 2025–2026 farming season.”

He explained the various forms of water harvesting relevant to local communities. These include: Rainwater harvesting, which is collecting roof runoff into tanks or containers. Surface runoff harvesting, which is capturing water that flows across land into small dams, ponds, or check dams. In-field water harvesting, involving techniques such as tied ridges, zai pits, and contour bunds that trap water directly in crop fields. Lastly, groundwater recharge, using soakaway pits and infiltration trenches to restore underground water levels.

These methods, Chiveso noted, are essential for improving soil moisture, reducing erosion, enhancing crop yields, and building community climate resilience. Commonly used local techniques include tied ridges, zai pits, roof water tanks, contour bunds, and small community dams and ponds.

While water harvesting methods are generally cost-effective and environmentally friendly, their successful implementation faces hurdles, mainly concerning labour and geography.

Chiveso highlighted that labour intensity is a major barrier, particularly for vulnerable groups. “Many methods (like zai pits or tied ridges) require significant manual labour for digging, shaping ridges, or maintaining structures. Women and the elderly really lag behind in the implementation of some of these techniques that would really require labour like digging,” he explained.

He also pointed out that certain regions, especially those with sandy soils or steep terrain, face structural difficulties, as water-retaining features can collapse or fail without constant reinforcement. “In Matabeleland South and Masvingo, heavy runoff and poor soils make tied ridges less durable unless maintained yearly,” said Chiveso.

To overcome these challenges, he recommended practical solutions focused on community effort and skills development: “To address the barriers one can promote mechanized or group-based digging, e.g., use of ox-drawn ridgers or community labour days. Organisations can also help conduct regular training and demonstrations on correct layout, spacing, and maintenance of ridges/bunds.”

Asked about government interventions, Chiveso highlighted national efforts to promote modern and efficient agriculture. The government has introduced its National Agritech Strategy (2021–2025), designed to promote the use of technology and digital tools in agriculture. He also pointed to the widely known Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and partnerships with UN agencies and NGOs supporting climate-smart agriculture.

Beyond national policies, Chiveso stressed the crucial role of collective community action.”Communities can enhance water conservation by working together to build and maintain local water harvesting systems such as small dams, ponds, and roof-rainwater tanks… Forming local water committees helps manage and maintain these systems,” he said.

The discussion also touched on urban water management, with Chiveso giving a candid assessment of city drainage systems when asked about collecting pavement runoff:

“In some countries, runoff water is collected and recycled, but in Zimbabwe that’s another story. Our drainage systems are rarely serviced that’s why our cities flood. It’s not heavy rainfall; it’s poor maintenance.”

Chiveso also highlighted the essential participation of young people in driving sustainable water solutions. “Young people are central to innovation. They can create smart irrigation tools, weather apps, low-cost sensors, and lead awareness campaigns. They bridge traditional methods with modern sustainable solutions for water conservation.”

As the rainy season intensifies, Chiveso urged farmers across the country to take initiative. “Let us utilize our knowledge and available local resources to fight the effects of climate change affecting our farming sector. Together, we can go green.”