| Abstract |
This video consists of three films.
1) Letsatsi le eme (=The sun is standing still).
The film begins with a focus on El Niño as an important meteorological factor in causing drought risk in southern Africa. Rural people from Lesotho describe the impact of previous droughts on their livelihoods, and give their views as to the causes of drought. Given the threat of another impending drought, the film asks for appropriate responses. In the past, emergency responses often came in the form of relief, after the damage had already been done. Later the film shows examples of how a more long-term approach to drought management is achieved through the initiation of local community-driven risk reduction programmes. The film then focuses on two large dam projects -the Katze dam in Lesotho, and the Hardap dam in Namibia- and asks who benefits from such large water projects. Very different viewpoints from numerous stakeholders are presented. It is clear that the construction of large dams, and unequal distribution and access to water, are highly charged issues.
2) Banga Dam : drought mitigation - one community's experience.
The film begins with a number of women talking about the hardships endured after the drought of 1992. They describe some of the effects the drought had on their livelihoods, and some of the strategies they employed to survive. We learn about the history of the community dam project -how it was built with the (forced) labour of villagers, how it had not been maintained and how it was therefore falling into a state of disrepair. Villagers enlisted the help of the councilor who, in turn, called in the assistance of an NGO. The film shows a participatory appraisal process involving a transect walk and community mapping exercise, through which villagers identify both problems and possible solutions. Then they are seen implementing some of their plans, such as building a fence and sand traps. Experts are called in as advisors, and the co-operation between local villagers and outside agents, based on a process of working together, is shown. In order to make the dam rehabilitation project sustainable, members of the village development committee meet in order to generate a list of laws that will guide the usage of the dam. Finally, the film shows how the NGO facilitates a visit of village representatives to another village, where the development process has already progressed further. The representatives learn about the multi-pronged approach to drought mitigation through multi-sectoral community development. It becomes clear how much can be accomplished if many agents work together through community structures in establishing a truly sustainable process of livelihood security.
3) Mooka Granaries : drought mitigation - one NGO's experience
The film opens with a ceremony called to celebrate the end of another drought. Various villagers talk about the hardships endured during previous droughts, and describe ways in which they attempted to build their own capacity to survive. An extension agency brought in by the government to bring food relief helped the villagers to define their own problems and work towards solutions. Through a matrix ranking exercise, all participants realized that hunger and water were the most urgent problems. Therefore, they initiated a food security programme. A flourishing seed bank developed from which villagers could procure a range of seeds, and return what they had taken after the harvest. Through village management committees in alliance with other agencies, villagers then set out to establish reliable water sources. As a result, there was a surplus of grain and water, and women could brew beer. The film shows how a disco can become an income generating project. Villagers were also trained to keep records. In this way they could monitor progress and plan future action. The Kooma/Mooka food security programme brought seeds and water to thousands of people. Farmers report that community organization and unity are the most important factors in developing sustainable development and drought mitigation programmes.
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