In Mxochiwa Village, Gokwe South, life had not always been easy for Francis Tafirei (59) and his wife, Joice Zungura (56). The couple, who care for their two young grandsons, depended largely on small-scale farming and irregular income to meet their family’s needs. Like many households in the area, they often struggled to buy enough farming inputs, food, and basic household items.
“There were times when we worried about the next season,” Francis recalls. “Without proper seed and fertiliser, our harvests were never certain.”
Joice adds quietly, “When money is short, it brings tension in the home. You feel helpless.”
The Tafirei family’s situation began to improve when they joined the Fambidzanai Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) Group, which is supported by the “Building Resilience and Self-Reliant Communities in Rural Areas” project in their community. Through the savings and loans provided by the group, they were able to access small amounts of capital, which allowed them to invest in poultry and purchase feed for their chickens. During their last group share-out in November, each member received 10 kg of maize seed and 50 kg of fertiliser, enabling them to plant their crops in a timely manner for the season.
“We were trained in poultry rearing and given chicks as a group,” Francis explains. “At first, it did not work well. We lost some birds, and we were discouraged.”
Instead of giving up, the couple chose to learn from their mistakes.
“We told ourselves, ‘Let’s try again as a family,’” Joice says with a smile. “This time, we knew what to do.”
Using the skills they had gained, they started raising chickens at home. They began with broilers, rearing batches of 100 at a time, and gradually expanded into free-range Ako breed chickens, which now number over 300 birds. Today, their homestead is alive with activity, as chickens roam under simple wooden shelters built from local materials.
Their poultry enterprise soon became a reliable source of income.
“From selling chickens, we started reinvesting,” Francis says proudly. “We buy farming inputs, improve our fields, and support our family.”
With their earnings, the family has purchased household assets such as a kitchen unit, fridge, television, and solar system, improving their quality of life and reducing dependence on unreliable energy sources.
At the same time, they applied new agroecology practices learnt through the project. Using chicken droppings, they now produce organic liquid fertiliser, which has strengthened their maize fields and improved yields.
“Our crops are greener now,” Joice explains. “Even when rains are inconsistent, the soil is stronger.”
Beyond financial gains, the project has transformed their family dynamics. Joice speaks passionately about the change.
“Before, women depended heavily on their husbands for everything,” she says. “Now, we contribute equally. I can meet household needs on my own.”
She adds, “When families have income, there is peace. We no longer fight over money. Cases of violence have gone down.”
For Francis, this is one of the project’s greatest achievements.
“When my wife is empowered, our whole home is strong,” he says. “We respect each other more.”
Today, Francis and Joice are respected role models within the Fambidzanai Group. They regularly encourage other members to save, invest, and adopt sustainable farming practices.
“We tell others, ‘Start small, be patient, and don’t give up,’” Francis says. “What matters is consistency.”
Their journey reflects a powerful outcome of the project: improved household resilience, sustainable livelihoods, gender equality, and reduced vulnerability to poverty and conflict. Through access to inputs, savings mechanisms, skills training, and agroecological practices, the couple has moved from uncertainty to stability. Thanks to the resilience initiative by MeDRA Zimbabwe, supported by Brot für die Welt and UnitingWorld.
Their story is significant because it shows how community-based support, combined with determination, can transform lives. From a struggling household to a thriving farming and poultry enterprise, Francis and Joice’s experience proves that when families are empowered with knowledge, resources, and confidence, they can build lasting change, not only for themselves but for their entire community.