Posted on November, 27 2025

“We used to wonder why the water was no longer lasting,” recalls Weza, a 50-year-old mother of two. “Each year, we saw more soil in the dam and less water. It was painful because the dam was our only hope when rains failed.”

The turning point came when the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) project, implemented by WWF Zimbabwe with support from Global Affairs Canada, was introduced in the area. Through a series of capacity-building sessions, the community began to understand the root causes of the problem. They learned that deforestation, land exposure, and uncontrolled livestock movement were accelerating soil erosion, which caused the dam to silt up rapidly and reduced its storage capacity.

“CAPA opened our eyes,” says Weza. “We discovered that the problem was not just the lack of rain, it was our own actions that made things worse.”

With technical guidance from WWF, community members were equipped with practical skills to tackle the issue. 40 community members were trained to build stone and gabion structures to reduce soil erosion, while the wider community participated in the desilting of the dam, removing years of accumulated debris.

The transformation was immediate. “The rains started the day we finished desilting”, Weza chuckles, “For the first time in many years, we have water in the dam through the hottest months in the dry season. After the training and work we did, the dam now holds more water, and the siltation has slowed down,” Weza says with pride.

Encouraged by the strong community participation, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provided fencing materials to secure both the wetland and the dam area. This intervention ensures that livestock and wildlife will no longer disturb the water source, while designated animal drinking points have been established to allow continued access to water in a sustainable manner.

As a result, more than 250 households surrounding the area along with 400 head of cattle and goats will benefit directly from this initiative.

To further stabilize the ecosystem, the community planted vetiver grass covering close to 2 hectares, which are known for their ability to control soil erosion and filter runoff before it reaches the dam. During the upcoming rainy season, plans are in place to plant an additional vetiver plant and indigenous trees around the wetland and on surrounding homesteads and fields within 2km radius of the wetland. The trees are already growing in a community nursery and will be transplanted once the rains begin.

This revived water source has now become a hub for new opportunities. Plans are underway to establish a community chilli garden that will benefit more than 20 households, providing chilli and vegetables for nutrition. Additionally, beekeeping is being introduced with several people already trained and installing beehives around the wetland. The chilli production and beekeeping will not only generate income but also act as nature-based deterrent to elephants, which previously destroyed crops in the area.

“Beekeeping will bring us income, but it will also help protect us, our gardens and property from elephants,” Weza explains. “It’s a simple idea, but it works so that we live together with nature.”

Looking ahead, the Chidobe community is determined to preserve their progress. “We have learned that if we take care of the land, it will take care of us,” says Weza. “This dam is our future. It gives us hope, water, and a way to fight climate change together.”