When Easther Makwara lost her husband, she was left with grief, four children, and a future filled with uncertainty. But through the red soil of Craig Gower farm and the opportunity granted by Zimbabwe’s Land Reform Program, she began to sow more than seeds — she sowed resilience, dignity, and hope. From struggling to afford fertilizer to proudly owning a tractor and mentoring other women, Easther’s journey is a powerful reminder that when policy meets perseverance, futures are rewritten.
In the fields of Craig Gower farm, where red earth meets unshakable hope, one widow is quietly rewriting the story of women in agriculture.
When her husband passed away, Easther Makwara, was left with four children to raise and a future to build alone.
That future began to take shape when she was allocated land under the Government’s Land Reform Program, a bold move that gave her a foundation.
“Getting that land was the beginning.” She said.
“I had somewhere to start again,” she added.
But farming is more than land.
At first, she struggled to secure quality seed and fertilizer. Without equipment, everything had to be done by hand. Yet she persisted driven by the desire to feed her family, send her children to school, and honor her husband’s legacy.
Her turning point came when her dedication caught the eye of local Agritex officers. Recognizing her potential, they connected her with technical support and guidance on land preparation, crop management, better seed choices and market access. The combination of her effort and timely extension services brought her fields to life.
“I started to see the results better crops, better income,” she says.
“So I took the risk and bought a tractor.”
That tractor became a symbol of what’s possible when policy meets persistence. With it, she expanded her operations, improved efficiency, and grew enough to send all her children to school proudly, on the strength of farming.
Today, she’s no longer just a farmer. She’s an employer, a mentor, and a role model. Other women come to her for advice. She reminds them that the land they were given is more than soil it’s a platform for dignity and growth.
“When government gives us land and support, it’s a vote of confidence,” she says. “With support and determination, it can change everything.”
Her story is a testament to what happens when gaps are identified and actioned not with blame, but with belief. The government provided land. She provided heart. Together, they cultivated more than crops they cultivated a future.
