Greenfields Garden Shines: Emganwini Community Celebrates Solar Pump Milestone

In the bustling heart of Emganwini, on the road to Zimbabwe's western border, a story of resilience, hard work and remarkable community spirit is quietly blossoming within the Greenfield market garden.

What once seemed like a distant dream became a proud reality when the gardeners celebrated the successful installation of their solar-powered borehole pump.

For months, the dedicated members of the garden worked tirelessly, saving every cent, organising fundraisers, and pooling resources to raise the $400 needed to make this life-changing project possible.

Their perseverance paid off and, with the pump now in place, the garden’s water supply has effectively doubled.

This achievement will not only enhance vegetable production but also bring greater food security, improved nutrition, and more income opportunities for families in the community.

"This a monumental milestone for us as a garden as it reminds us how far we have come and how resilience and unity has paid off. This additional borehole will enable us to produce more on the commercial side and hopefully increase our income ”, exclaimed Charles Ntabeni, Greenfield Vice Chairman.

The installation day was a moving display of unity and determination.

Rather than outsourcing all the work, the gardeners rolled up their sleeves and provided labour, carrying tools, assisting the technician, and ensuring every detail was handled with care.

This hands-on approach deepened their sense of ownership and pride, proving that the project truly belongs to the people who nurtured it from vision to completion.

Adding to their triumph, the gardeners also demonstrated newfound confidence and independence by negotiating the technician’s installation fee down from $280 to $180; an empowering reminder that they have the ability to advocate for themselves and their community’s needs.

This milestone is not just about installing a solar pump; it is about planting seeds of independence, strengthening the bonds of unity, and showing how resilience, when shared, can turn aspirations into achievements.

This success story exemplifies the ZDDT principle of self-help.