Godfrey Mtimba
Mwenezi –Villagers in Mwenezi who have long relied on harvesting and selling caterpillars (madora) for income are lamenting a sharp decline in production this rainy season, which they attribute largely to the effects of climate change.
Communities in areas such as Chipangai, Sarahuru and Rutenga say the normally abundant, protein-rich delicacy has almost vanished from Mopane woodlands, cutting off a critical seasonal source of food and income.
“We usually depend on harvesting madora during the rainy season, but this year something bad happened,” said Shalati Chauke from Chipangai. “There are no madora in the trees. We used to earn money to fend for our families and send children to school, but we couldn’t do that this time.”
Villagers said they traditionally harvested tonnes of caterpillars, selling them locally, to travellers along the Masvingo–Beitbridge highway, and to urban markets such as Masvingo, Chiredzi and even Harare.
A 20-litre tin of dried madora can fetch up to US$20, making the trade a lucrative livelihood for many households during the rainy season.
Residents believe the decline is directly linked to climate change, noting that Mwenezi’s arid conditions are now marked by prolonged high temperatures and erratic rainfall that disrupt the caterpillars’ reproductive cycle.
“We think the high temperatures we experienced last year around October and November were not conducive to reproduction,” said Emmanuel Baloyi of Rutenga Growth Point. “At times, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. Such heat kills the reproduction process.”
National University of Science and Technology (NUST) lecturer and climate change expert Shadreck Ndinde agreed that climate change was playing a significant role, although he noted that other factors could also be involved.
“There may be several contributing factors, but the impact of climate change cannot be overlooked,” said Ndinde. “It is causing havoc in many parts of the Lowveld. Heatwaves with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are not conducive to the worms’ reproductive process, hence the scarcity.”
He added that there was a need to explore alternative approaches, such as controlled reproduction methods under laboratory-regulated temperatures, to sustain production.
Research supports villagers’ concerns.
A 2024 study titled The Effects of Climate Change on Livelihood Systems in Mwenezi, conducted by Climate Research for Development (CR4D) , found that traditional medicines, natural resources, fruits and livestock were increasingly affected by low rainfall, deforestation, veld fires and floods linked to climate change.
Another study, The Impact of Climate Change on Household Food Security Among Vulnerable Populations of Matande Communal Lands, Mwenezi District in 2023by Fanuel Muzerengi, Crescentia Gandidzanwa and Lovemore Chirubvu, revealed that about 66 percent of households in Mwenezi were likely to be food-insecure due to climate-related disruptions to ecosystems and livelihoods.
However, traditional leaders offer a different interpretation. Chief Chitanga, born Feleni Chauke of Mwenezi, said the disappearance of madora was linked to the erosion of cultural practices.
“Traditionally, the harvesting of caterpillars is supposed to be guided by traditional leaders through rituals such as mauchiro, where we thank the ancestors for the gift,” he said. “Nowadays, people collect caterpillars without observing these traditions. The ancestors may be angry, and we need to appease them.”
The shortage has already rippled beyond Mwenezi. A recent survey in Masvingo found that madora were no longer available in shops, vegetable markets, bars and restaurants where they are usually sold.
Speaking during a tour of the Mapfura (amarula) wine production plant in Rutenga last Friday, Acting President Kembo Mohadi said government was implementing climate change mitigation programmes, including the industrialisation of rural areas through value addition of local natural resources.
He said preserving Mopane trees, where madora reproduce, and promoting products such as mapfura were part of broader efforts to protect rural livelihoods threatened by climate change and growing food insecurity.