Mbokiseng Moyo
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Authors
David Brazier
Issue Date
2017-02
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Agriculture , Energy
Alternative Title
Abstract
Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities (SE4RC) Gwanda district, Zimbabwe; Nsanje and Chikwawa districts, Malawi February 2015 – January 2019 Funding: European Union, OFID and GEF Small Grants Programme Mbokiseng Moyo has seven children aged 10-24. She lives in the village of Mashaba in Gwanda, Zimbabwe. Before the SE4RC project she was forced to cross the border to Botswana illegally along secret paths in the dead of night so she could buy cheaper goods to bring back to Zimbabwe and sell to make a profit. “Before, I used to cross into Botswana to buy things like clothes (because they are cheaper over there) and then sell them here to make a profit. It was illegal but I did it to help send my children to school. I used to travel at night so I wouldn’t be seen by soldiers. It was very dangerous and there were a lot of snakes. But I don’t need to do that anymore. Since the project started my children lead a better life. I am able to feed them and buy them stationery. I used to have to work at night but now I am able to work during the day and provide for my children. I no longer have to do border jumping. In September 2016 I planted maize on my land and I am looking forward to getting more and bigger cobs from my crops. I have already harvested 100 cobs and was selling 2 cobs for $1. I am very happy with that. I expect to earn a lot more than when I was selling clothes. I can sell maize to buy goods and then sell goods to make more money. I am also fit now from the farming. Now I look like a successful woman! I am now able to sleep well as I am getting good food and I am living a better life. Women are now able to give birth at the clinic and education has improved and people are now able to buy cold drinks. Children can study longer at school after lessons and if someone gets ill they can be attended to at the clinic. One of my daughters had a problem with her eyes so she went to the clinic at night. They attended to her that same night. They gave her medicine and she came back home. Now my children can study at home because we have a solar light. Before, we had candles which were dangerous. Once, my son fell asleep when the candle was close to his exercise book and it caught fire. Fortunately he woke up and all that was burned was his exercise book but it could have been much worse.”