Rewards of Patience reaped

Patience finally paid dividends for a 31-year-old aspiring farmer from Mshadza. For years, Eva Zwane, mother of three, was among the millions of unemployed South Africans despite having a diploma in crop production.

She had been searching for job opportunities since 2014 when she graduated but never secured a permanent position. She was on the verge of giving up on her career path of being a farmer. “I was close to giving up on my dream as I was looking for any kind of job just to put food on the table for my family.

My breakthrough only came in June when I went to Casambo Guest Lodge looking for a chance to be hired,” explained Zwane.

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“The owner of the lodge, Carol Sanderson-Sambo, asked me what else I could offer since she had no vacancy at the time. I told her about my passion for farming and that I had a diploma in crop production, but I didn’t have land to farm on.

To my surprise Sanderson-Sambo and her family allowed me to use their three hectares of unused land opposite Nomanini Guest Lodge to farm on,” she said.

“It was a bushy area all over and I hired people from my community to clear it and managed to cultivate one hectare so far. My mustard spinach is ready for consumption while the lettuce, cabbage, onions, and peppers will be ready in a few months’ time,” she said.

She sells her fresh products to locals along the road and to those who visit her farm, however, she needs a market to supply to. Zwane’s dream is to grow her business into a successful farm, supplying a large market with a variety of produce and to contribute to South Africa’s economy.

She hopes to create job opportunities and help in the fight against hunger and poverty.

Zwane still needs help from anyone who can assist her in the smooth running of her farm. She needs Jo-Jo tanks, farming equipment, and uniforms for her employees.