Former President of the Republic of Malawi Joyce Banda, entrepreneur, activist, politician, and philanthropist officially launched the Musuna Community Projects at a groundbreaking ceremony held in the resort town of Victoria Falls on Mothers’ Day.
In a partnership with the Southern African Development Initiators (SADI), The Joyce Banda Foundation International officially commenced community development projects for the Msuna community in Zimbabwe’s coal-mining district of Hwange located in the Matabeleland North province. The foundation will guide initiatives that range from empowering women to providing for orphans’ education in the underserved rural community.
The Musuna Community Project will see the construction of a new school, irrigation system for, and fish farms, projects that together are expected to bring improved access to educational facilities, nutrition, water sanitation and health, and income.
Located along the fourth largest river in Africa, the Musuna community is adjacent to Victoria Falls town and a few kilometers away from the coal mining town of Hwange. The area is fortunate to be along a river that never runs dry with waters that flow past six countries and where fishing has been the traditional and main economic activity sustaining the rural community.
Climate change, environmental degradation, and overfishing have led to the depletion of fish supply from the Zambezi river and villagers have started to feel the economic effects as their main income source suffers from climate and environmental justice threats.
