Sowing Peace in Sofa Gwanda:
A Garden of Unity and Hope
By Thabang Nare
In the heart of Sofa Gwanda, a remarkable story is taking root—one of resilience, unity, and hope. What was once an overgrown thicket now flourishes as the Sofa Peace Garden, a vibrant community space where peace is nurtured alongside tomatoes, onions, and carrots.
As part of the ZimRights Right to Peace campaign, the Sofa Peace Garden is more than just a patch of cultivated land—it’s a living embodiment of peaceful coexistence, built by the people, for the people. ZimRights’ vision is clear: to promote dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable livelihoods through grassroots action. The garden in Sofa Gwanda has become a model of this vision in action.
When the ZimRights secretariat visited on June 12, 2025, they were met with a flourishing space transformed by the passion and commitment of 11 dedicated members of the Peace Action Committee. With an impressive 92% crop yield and 162 active plots (with plans to expand to 220), the garden has become a reliable source of income and nourishment for families.
But the impact goes beyond food. This garden empowers men, women, and youth alike, fostering economic independence, resilience, and unity at a time when communities need it most.
The Sofa Peace Garden has blossomed into a vibrant community hub. Regular workshops and meetings occur among the rows of crops, giving residents space to share stories, address challenges, and celebrate achievements. It’s a space where young people learn farming skills and values of collaboration and responsibility.
Even without access to a borehole, community members continue to fetch water from nearby streams, demonstrating resilience in the face of difficulty. And through it all, the garden thrives.
Beyond providing food and fellowship, the garden also serves as a platform for peacebuilding—local leaders, including the area chief, host dialogue sessions here. Working alongside GASA, a group of community peace police, members have successfully mediated over 20 local conflicts, solidifying the garden’s role as a cornerstone of peace and justice in Sofa Gwanda.
Community members speak passionately about the difference the garden has made in their lives:
“This garden has not only fed my family but has also fed my spirit. We no longer see each other as rivals but as partners in this journey.”
“When we work together, we grow together. The garden has shown us the strength of our unity.”
These words capture what the peace garden represents: the collective strength of a united community.
The garden becomes a beacon of what’s possible when communities come together around a shared vision. Peace Committee member Lesly Kabwe said, “In this garden, we plant not only seeds but the dreams of a peaceful tomorrow.”
The Sofa Peace Garden is not just transforming land—it’s changing lives, and its story inspires other communities across Zimbabwe to follow suit. As more people join the movement, the roots of peace will grow deeper, reaching future generations.
