From Forests to Futures: A Beekeeper’s Journey

Beekeeping was never in my mind as I grew up. But seeing my father keeping bees, and later studying at the Zimbabwe College of Forestry, inspired me to begin my own journey with bees and forests.

My name is Morat Mutisi. I am a beekeeper by passion and profession, serving as Operations Director of Working for Bees and Project Manager for Bees for Development Zimbabwe.

I first learned beekeeping from my father in 2014, and by 2019 I became fully committed to it. As my interest grew, so did my love for working with nature — especially bees and trees. I soon realised that caring for bees naturally leads to caring for forests too. Bees depend on healthy trees, and forests become an important source of livelihoods for communities.

Through my work, I continue to discover new ideas and gain a deeper understanding of both beekeeping and forestry. Every day brings new lessons from nature.

Morat Mutisi

Like many young people, my journey was not without challenges. After completing my Diploma in Forestry in 2019, I faced unemployment, limited capital and resources, and a lack of experience and knowledge about running my own projects. At that point, my father helped me realise that unemployment could be addressed by harnessing nature to earn a living.

Nature-based solutions, especially nature-based beekeeping, changed my life.

Through beekeeping, I have been able to create my own employment and earn income from selling honey, beeswax, candles, floor polish, shoe polish and other value-added products. Local knowledge and locally available resources became the foundation that helped me turn my dreams into reality.

Using what was already around me not only improved my own skills and confidence, but also enabled me to teach others sustainable beekeeping practices that support both people and nature.

Today, almost everyone in Zimbabwe and beyond is searching for pure honey. This reminds me how important bees and trees truly are. Bees collect nectar from flowering trees to make honey, so protecting forests means protecting bees too.

Tree planting operation

Placing a Top Bar hive

Thanks to the support of Bees for Development, we are spreading this message to communities through:

• Training community groups in beekeeping
• Supporting nursery management
• Promoting forest protection and sustainable forestry practices
• Families in our communities are now earning income through selling honey, working in nurseries, planting trees, weeding young trees, and constructing fire guards to protect forests.
• Sometimes small community impacts can lead to very great change.

In Nyazura, Makoni District in Zimbabwe, families now spend weekdays supporting bee and tree projects, while enjoying football together at weekends. There is growing hope for the future of beekeeping and forests in Zimbabwe as communities gain skills in sustainable beekeeping, tree establishment and forest protection.

Forest protection also includes fire prevention and control, supported by trained firefighters and forest guards who monitor and report illegal tree cutting and damage within the forests.

Protecting the forest means protecting the bees.

As Operations Director of Working for Bees and Project Manager for Bees for Development Zimbabwe, I would like to thank all beekeepers, partners and supporters who continue to make this work possible.

Special thanks to everyone celebrating this World Bee Day and supporting the importance of bees, trees and nature.

Let us continue to work together with love for nature for a better tomorrow.

You can support our work in Zimbabwe and around the world by making either a one off or a regular donation – just click the button below:

Mopping up operation after a fire