Deborah Mavetere, a vendor who sells vegetables in the nearby Seke urban centre, said that over the past few years the rains had been erratic, causing water sources to dry up.

“Our family has lived on selling vegetables since I was a child and I have also entered the same trade. We have been able to live modestly, but now it is more difficult as our source of water is no longer reliable, forcing us to reduce the size of our gardens,” she said.

King Gumbi, a journalism student at COSSA, said that there was need for a collective approach to climate change from all countries.

“I understand what climate change is, it is the change of the temperatures as a result of global warming that is caused by the deflation of the ozone layer which protects us from heat. I think that not much has been done in educating people about climate change. Zimbabweans do not know much about the subject, the media should educate

people on the subject. Leaders who are meeting in South Africa should also ensure that whatever funds they will come up with they will be used positively,” said Gumbi.

Moses Chibaya, a journalist, said he did not really appreciate the effects of climate change.

“I just know what climate change is from what I have learnt as a student but I don’t have a deep understanding of the matter. I think journalists should be taught more if we are to make headway in climate reporting,” he said.

Other locals admitted that climate change was something they heard about, but understood little about it.

“I have heard about climate change but I don’t know how it has affected us as Zimbabweans,” another villager admitted.

Kyoto Protocol

Engineer Donald Sibanda from the University of Zimbabwe mentioned the need for South Africa to ratify the Kyoto Protocol which sets legally-binding targets for developed countries to reduce greenhouse emissions within seven years. To reach this goal, countries must put greenhouse emission controls on their largest polluters. Productivity will only be maintained if the polluters seek cleaner, renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. Solar, wind and geothermal energy are examples of renewable sources.

While some Zimbabweans are ignorant, others have felt the effects of climate change.

“I am sure that the weather patterns have changed for the worst. The winter is very cold and short and the summer very hot. People no longer rely on rainfall as it is so erratic,” said Andrew Mapara, a teacher in Seke communal lands.

Experts say that climate change is slowly affecting the ability of developing nations to produce food for themselves; this has resulted in the influx of the controversial genetically motivated foods (GMOs).

Tafadzwa Musarara, of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, said that the country was faced with a situation where countries like South Africa were offloading excess foodstuffs that were not certified for human consumption.

Follow the old ways

A farmer in Seke communal lands attributed the weather patterns to the refusal of people to follow traditions.

“It is no longer raining because our ancestors are sad, we are no longer brewing beer as we used to before the rainy season and that has resulted in the climate changing,” said Aleck Macheka.

Over the past few months, parts of Zimbabwe have experienced severe water shortages and people here are holding out hope that the upcoming climate change conference in South Africa from November 8-December 9 will outline ways in which the situation can be improved.

“The world leadership should introduce new methods of farming and also assist people who are faced with hunger. There should be a fund that is set aside to assist people who have been affected by a drought,” said Lovemore Mapfekera a social worker.