Community members working on the dam wall.
Nhimbes are traditional platforms that bring diverse local people to work together while enhancing individual and group community relations, hence building peace. The activity is part of Heal Zimbabwe’s community initiatives carried out by local Peace Clubs established to promote community healing and tolerance, conflict prevention and transformation.
35 community members from four villages namely; Hove, Chitengu, Mutasa and Mvundura villages converged on the 27th of August 2015 to construct a dam wall along Kanyenze River to preserve water beyond the rainy season. The dam is a source of water for livestock for the four villages that came together on this day. Muzarabani area traditionally records low and erratic rainfalls. The nhimbe was also attended by three traditional leaders who are customarily responsible for maintaining communal peace and conflict resolution. Mr Hove, a local village head applauded HZT for the initiatives. “We thank Heal Zimbabwe for this nhimbe because it has brought us together to realise the importance of working together and this has regenerated our thirst for building peace by working togetherâ€, he said.
The villages are previously known for violent clashes between political opponents, particularly ZANU PF and MDC supporters. However, on this day, people from different political groups converged to pursue the development agenda for their community without fighting. Besides bringing people from diverse political parties, the nhimbe also provided an opportunity for community members to discuss conflict issues affecting their communities as well as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) which is constitutionally mandated to build peace and promote national healing, reconciliation and integration .