HEFO Opens Nhlekisa Market Hub and Information Centre -Phase 1
Nhlekisa Village, Ward 16, Nkayi, Zimbabwe – HEFO marked an important milestone on 7 October 2026 with the opening of Phase One of the Nhlekisa Market Hub and Information Centre (NMHIC). The new facility brings together the organisation’s agricultural and community initiatives in one place, creating opportunities for farmers to see practical demonstrations, exchange knowledge and strengthen their livelihoods.
More than 120 people attended the event, including local farmers, community members, traditional leadership, representatives of eight government line ministries and the Nkayi District Development Co-ordinating Administrative Officer, Mr N. Hlumbayo. Headman Khomayanga, Mr Jairos Mafu, was also present.
A space to learn, practise and grow
Guest speaker Ms Jenny Beechey, International Partnership Manager and Programme Quality and Effectiveness Lead at Tearfund Australia, described the centre as a place where people across Nkayi can come to learn, observe and apply new skills in their homes and businesses. She applauded HEFO, local communities and government partners for working together to build resilience and sustainable development.
During a tour, visitors explored the facilities and learned how the hub will support hands-on training and farmer-to-farmer learning.
Practical facilities for rural livelihoods
The new hub includes goat housing and a dipping facility, a cattle ramp, five cattle holding pens, a cattle race, a vegetable garden and a fodder crop garden. A building originally planned as a stock-feed shed now serves as a multipurpose hall for workshops, community meetings, church services and other gatherings.
HEFO also plans to expand the centre into an information hub where farmers can access climate and crop guidance, early warnings about potential disasters and digital tools to help them make timely, informed decisions.
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journey with HEFO
Celebrating progress and community voices
Local farmer groups filled the launch with songs, dance and presentations reflecting the skills gained through HEFO’s programmes. Participants competed for prizes, including indigenous chickens, while individual farmers shared testimonies about positive changes in their lives. The availability of water from solar-powered boreholes, supported by HEFO and its partners, was recognised as an important foundation for many of these improvements.
The gathering also highlighted women’s rights. Ms Shupikai Munda spoke about the resilience of rural women, particularly widows, and the challenges they may face after the loss of a husband.
Looking ahead
The Nhlekisa Market Hub and Information Centre is a step forward in HEFO’s commitment to strengthening sustainable livelihoods in Nkayi. By bringing training, demonstrations and useful information closer to the community, the hub aims to help farmers put knowledge into practice and build lasting resilience.
