Researching Lake Chivero critical zone: Prudence Tambura

My Ph.D project at the University of Zimbabwe is an ethno-scientific study of the Harare-Chivero Critical Zone focusing on the Lake Chivero catchment area which includes the Harare Metropolitan area and its dormitory towns of Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa. Harare-Chivero was identified as a critical zone under the Critical Zones Africa (CZA) project, a Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) funded research consortium. The CZA project brings together scholars from various universities in South and East Africa. My study will contribute to the Critical Zone Science by incorporating societal aspects in the understanding of interactions of air, water, soil, rock and living organisms and human behaviour to fully contribute to sustainability and human wellbeing (habitability and humanity).

For this wet behind the ears environmental scientist habituated in a science lab, navigating the complex landscape of the Harare-Chivero Critical Zone during field work was and still is not a walk in the park. Armed with the Zimbabwe’s Heritage Based Education 5.0 National Policy Framework, I plunged into the deep end, intrigued by this site characterised with biodiverse landscapes which are intertwined with human activities. The Lake Chivero Catchment area proves to be a site of various multi- spectral research despite still having significant environmental challenges. Initial field visits showed that the lake and its tributaries are heavily polluted. In addition to my traditional field work where various parameter testing, laboratory tests, observations, literature reviews and inferences which in the traditional academic genre seemed sufficient enough to proffer possible solutions, a muddy boots approach as advised by Prof Lesley Green meant that at times I had to take off my lab coat. I literally roll up my sleeves and took notes on the local voices, valuable insights, popular narratives, and lived stories that the people were happy and eager to share during field visits. Zimbabweans are usually known for their hospitality and willingness to help. It was a joy to note that the landscape was filled with rich stories based on indigenous cultural traditions, historical colonial influences and contemporary urban practices that shaped the people’s interactions with the natural resources in this catchment area.

With African environmentalism perspectives in mind, the needs of the residents battling with not only erratic water supplies, contamination and pollution of their main water sources frequent outbreak of water borne diseases like cholera and threats to their livelihoods within a harsh economic climate made me delve deeper to get an understanding of these voices, lived experiences, social interactions, hopes and aspirations that shaped this beautiful landscape. The main question for me in the field then was (and ironically still is), how do I bridge the gap between science and society with what I have learned in these communities so as to allow for proper participatory soil and water health management, restoration and repair? 

The journey is still on with many more field visits and data collection processes in sight as I am in my initial data collection stages. Walking the tight rope of linking social and natural sciences under the guidance of Pedologist Prof Menas Wuta, Sociologist Prof Billy Mukamuri and other experts in the Soil Science and Environment Department which form my supervisory team is intriguing, fun and exciting. Here is hoping that all these field experiences will give me a holistic understanding that will enable me to build an ethno-scientific model that is relevant for community engagement that will enhance stewardship over soil and water health and overtly improve habitability in the Harare-Chivero Critical Zone.

Note: CZA is sad to announce the passing of Prudence Tambura, who passed on after a short illness in Harare, Zimbabwe on the 27th of March 2025. Tambura shared this reflective blog prior to her passing, which would have been published this week.