When food is scarce, a Swazi family survives on Mopane worms

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Story and photos by Zanele Faith Dlamini, Swaziland Communications

Fifty-one year old Siphiwe Myeni from Eluhlekweni in Swaziland, lives with her grandchildren – Nhlanhla and Boy. A part of the Somntongo constituency, this is one of the communities that have been adversely affected by severe drought. Nhlanhla is 6 and will soon be a World Vision sponsored child, while Boy is 4.

Early at five in the morning, Siphiwe travels about an hour to the mountains to collect Mopane worms locally known as tibati. After collection, she prepares and grills them. These worms are famous in the community. They eat some and the rest they sell for E6 (around US$0.43) per cup – 300ml.

“I have to go two or three times to the forest to get more worms so that I can make E120 (US$8.5) to buy a 10kg mealie meal to feed my grandchildren. It is quite far but I manage to get them,” she said. Often, they sleep without food. A borehole in the village was constructed by World Vision where they get clean water for drinking and washing.

Siphiwe lives in a stick and mud house with her grandchildren. Her kitchen is about to fall after it was affected by a storm in December last year. Her greatest wish is to see her grandchildren growing up, having enough food and completing school. Siphiwe has two children but both left in search for employment leaving her with the boys.