From Buckets to Boreholes: How Water Transformed Masimba Garden

By Ronald Magweta (Communications Officer)

In Mungoriwo Village, Nyanga District, Masimba Vegetable Garden has become a ray of hope and resilience for 41 households — including 35 women, six men, and more than 200 children under the age of 18. 

When the garden was first formed in 2008, members faced a daunting challenge: water. 

“We used to fetch water from the river to water our garden,” recalls Anna Kuchingamira (51), the garden’s Vice Chairperson. The long walks and heavy buckets meant that farming was labourious and often unproductive. 

Everything changed in 2023, when World Vision, through Strong Women Strong World, supported the community with a mechanised borehole and piped water scheme. The project introduced drip irrigation, providing an efficient and sustainable way to water crops. For the first time, families also had reliable water for drinking and household use, benefitting not only the garden but also two surrounding villages. 

The transformation has been remarkable. The garden has grown into what Anna calls an “incubation hub.”  

Here, members learn modern farming techniques, then replicate them at their homes and share knowledge with neighbours.  

“We are growing vegetables and maize and what we are learning from the garden we are also implementing at our households and teaching others in the community,” Anna explained. 

With improved harvests and reliable water, families are now able to meet more of their daily needs.  

“Our lives have improved because we now have goats, chickens, and even kitchen utensils at our homes,” Anna shared with pride. 

Masimba Garden’s journey is a testament to the power of clean water and sustainable farming — and how, with the right support, communities can grow stronger, healthier, and more resilient.