A “vision for change” attracted the people of Chikukwa communal area in Chimanimani District in Zimbabwe to participate in the Permaculture movement as early as 1991. In this high rainfall area, water was still a problem, because the mountainous, over-grazed and deforested land caused high run-off, erosion and flooding, which always left the community impoverished.

The communities began reclaiming their land through Permaculture and repairing the gullies by planting grass and tress, and re-establishing effective water catchments. After successfully developing productive activities such as orchards. agro-forestry, bee-keeping and fish-farming, the community formed the organization which is known today as CELCUT.