Unassuming Heroes: Mennonites Tackle Climate Change
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — In Zimbabwe’s often polarized political and economic landscape, one Christian tradition has quietly built a legacy of peace-building and community resilience.
While other community members chase modernity, migrating to cities for greener pastures due to recurring economic hardship, members of the Mennonite church, like Charles Ncube, a father of four, believe in faith-based farming, through which he is able to fend for his family and help needy neighbors.
Mennonites in Zimbabwe, primarily represented by the Brethren in Christ Church, have established a strong presence centered in Bulawayo, the country’s second-largest city, and in the Matabeleland region in southwestern Zimbabwe.
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Across these provinces, they run churches, schools, clinics, agricultural programs and humanitarian initiatives rooted in Anabaptist values of nonviolence, service and simplicity. In many districts, members of the BICC have been known for decades for their unique lifestyles.
“My joy comes when the whole community is fed and happy,” Ncube said. “We have a role to be each one’s keeper, beyond our family circles. Actually, the family of Jesus is big and one.”
Since the Anabaptist movement began in the 16th century, Mennonites have increased in numbers to over 2 million baptized believers across 87 countries. The Mennonites hold firm beliefs in adult baptism, peace, anti-war and rejection of military service.
Zimbabwe’s Brethren in Christ Church is structured as an evangelical, Anabaptist denomination that underscores simple living. Established in Zimbabwe in 1898 by missionaries led by Bishop Jesse Engle, the church has grown to about 300 branches nationwide.
With an estimated membership of between 39,000 and 50,000 people across the country, the BICC has evolved from missionary beginnings in the late nineteenth century into a mature locally-led church with significant local influence.
A Simple life of service
While Zimbabwe’s religious landscape is often dominated by Pentecostal megachurches, prosperity movements and politically vocal denominations, Mennonites offer a contrasting model.
“Members of BICC believe in living a simple life, but they carry a vision and mission for the communities they live in,” said Thulani Dube, a community leader in Matobo district. “This is grounded in their teachings and the biblical doctrine of love and caring for others. It is a bit of a different approach (from) other churches, not to say they don’t help communities.”
In Matobo, Ncube is not alone. In many parts of rural communities in the Matabeleland region, many members of BICC have anchored their lives in peace, fellowship and are endeavoring to unite people regardless of the tribe.
The Matabeleland region has historically suffered violence. Between 1983 and 1987, more than 20, 000 were massacred, while hundreds of thousands were injured and displaced during the government-sanctioned Gukurahundi operation. Since then, the region has been characterized by marginalization and political tensions. In the midst of these tensions, the Mennonites remain unshaken in their values.
“The truth in the whole Matabeleland region is that almost every home or family has a relative who is a victim of Gukurahundi,” said Mpendulo Siziba, a villager in Maphisa, Matabeleland South. “Remember, the genocide was against the Ndebele people, and this is their home area. Surprisingly, when we fellowship with members of BICC, their stance is not revenge, but transitional justice.”
Mennonites here have grown to be the largest national BICC membership in the world. With a strong hold in the country’s rural provinces, members of the church blend Anabaptist principles with indigenous culture.
Matthew Puthi, a theologian based in Bulawayo, said unlike some religious groups in North America, where the groups are distinctively separated from the rest of society, in Zimbabwe, the Mennonites are integrated into their broader communities.
“In these communities, they are known for proffering conflict resolutions, spearheading peace education programs in local schools,” he said. “However, their distinct mark remains farming, adopting sustainable, nature-based conservation agriculture.”
Solving the challenges of climate change
In recent years, the rural economy of the Matabeleland region has been severely affected by climate change-induced droughts. This has made rainfall become even more unpredictable, making life difficult for farmers.
In districts like Binga, at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, community members face challenges in accessing water. Faced with all these challenges, Mennonites are at the forefront of bringing solutions to these communities.
Conservation agriculture and drilling boreholes to access groundwater are some of the solutions being employed in these drought-stricken communities. Conservative farming reduces erosion and makes the best use of the available scarce resources.
In the Gwanda district of Zimbabwe, the church is implementing a farming project called Locally-Led Indigenous Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe. This is a Mennonite Central Committee project funded by Global Affairs Canada.
The LINCZ project is a four-year initiative focused on enhancing the resilience of 15,000 households across Zimbabwe by implementing nature-based solutions to adapt to climate change, restore biodiversity and improve local livelihoods.
According to the church updates, some members are implementing conservation agriculture techniques learned through partners like Brethren in Christ Compassionate and Development Services.
“Another key technique is the use of planting basins,” said Annalee Giesbrecht, an advocacy engagement animator and coordinator for the Peace & Justice Office of MCC Canada. “Seeds are planted in small depressions that are evenly spaced throughout the field. These depressions, like the infiltration pits, capture water when it rains and concentrate it near the seedlings, helping them to grow.”
Calvin Manika is an award-winning international journalist based in Zimbabwe.