TEK dialogue concludes with inspiring action plans

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

A Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) dialogue held in Chimanimani on July 7-11, 2025, wrapped up with participants presenting exciting and impactful action plans.

The workshop focused on equipping member organisations with the skills to design and lead community discussions that promote Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Holistic Land and Livestock Management (HLLM), and agroecological farming methods.

This initiative is part of a larger mission to heal damaged landscapes, protect indigenous seeds, and strengthen community resilience using participatory and culturally rooted strategies.

Participants had the opportunity to reflect on their observations and draft practical steps they could take back to their communities. They also identified the resources needed to turn their ideas into reality.

Many participants drew lessons from a story shared on the previous day by Mr Gundidza, who spent 11 years engaging elders in his community before they fully embraced Traditional Ecological Knowledge. His journey left a deep impression on attendees, sparking enthusiasm for similar dialogues in their own areas of birth or work.

Many participants expressed eagerness to work with traditional leaders to restore degraded lands, revive respect for sacred sites, and promote the use of native seeds.

One inspired participant even proposed creating a film based on Mr Gundidza’s experiences and writing a poetry book themed on Traditional Ecological Knowledge. In addition, a village head pledged to rally eight other leaders to discuss the revival of traditional land restoration practices.

On the issue of resources, every participant presented the need for monetary support to cover costs such as travel, food, stationery and tokens for traditional leaders. For the poetry and film projects, they highlighted the need for translators from English to vernacular languages or from vernacular languages to English for wide audience.

As everyone returned home, it was clear that the dialogue had ignited a fire for action, and the seeds of change had been planted.