A Person is a Person Because of Other People

By Thabiso Matsoso, seeder from Lesotho serving in Tete, Mozambique

My first year in Seed Program was very interesting. I am learning to be a part of the community by living in the community, attending communal programmes, and so forth.

In Mozambique we have two farming seasons, the first being for cereals and the second for horticulture. I have learnt a lot since my arrival here and have admired the love in the communities I have visited. I have also noted that through unity people here have overcome lots of challenges. For instance, they have worked together to build sand dams and they have helped each other by sharing plant seedlings during the vegetable season.

Challenges:

1. According to Team Seed V’s (Seed Southern Africa) phrase, “the weather here has been a lion to me – but I have tried my best to chase it into the cave.” In other words, the hot weather has not been friendly to me.
2. Pushing a bike with a tire punctured by thorns when it is 40°C.
3. Learning and understanding the project’s strategies for community mobilization. I initially had challenges finding farmers with accessible fields to participate in the program in Maconje community, but now they are the most outstanding in terms of adoption to conservation agriculture principles.

“Motho ke motho ka batho”  in Sesotho literally means, “a person is a person because of other people”. At the field, life is full of love and sharing. For instance, when people want to cook, they often ask a neighbour for a bit of fire so they can light their own. It was only natural that I started asking for fire as well, “Ndi kumbilampo moto” and it was given to me with a big smile.

And guess what! Since my arrival here I have never used a blanket but I use a sheet instead because it is hot. Normally in the villages everyone sleeps outside unless it’s windy or raining. I have slept outside several times with my colleagues proving right the saying that goes, “when in Rome do what Romans do.”

Aha moments!

Mozambique has become home to me: church members, farmers, and work colleagues have been a shoulder to lean on. They teach me language, and encourage and correct me when speaking. It is just awesome to serve here, and reminds me of this passage  Matthew 17:4 ”Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Thabiso Matsoso (left) visiting the farm of Mr Manuel Vinho and Mrs. Vinho in Nhabulebule, where they are practicing the conservation agriculture principles.

Thabiso Matsoso, a seeder from Lesotho, is monitoring the progress of the vegetable gardens in Maconje community in Tete, Mozambique. Farmers use water stored in the nearby sand dam to irrigate their gardens during the long, hot dry season.