Photo: Supplied
Bote received the youth category award at the Combined Women and Youth Excellence Awards ceremony, which was presided over by Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
She was inspired to start her rabbit-rearing project after seeing her father run a similar venture at their home in Manyame Park, Chitungwiza, near Harare.
Starting with just three rabbits three years ago, Bote now has 56, after selling some along the way. She no longer asks for pocket money, using funds from her project to buy school stationery.
“I saw my father doing it, and it looked so promising. Rabbits are easy to keep, and they multiply much faster than chickens,” Bote said.
Keeping rabbits doesn’t interfere with her studies. In the mornings, her father feeds them, and when she returns from school, she handles tasks such as monitoring records for those about to give birth. On weekends, she completes the rest of the work.
Her father taught her the basics of rabbit farming. She has learnt about daily feed requirements, the importance of water, proper feed, fostering, and why it’s important to breed four or more does.
Bote hopes to study to become an animal scientist.
She received a certificate, seeds, and was promised prize money when honoured by the First Lady. Her father, Tawanda Bote, said he started rabbit farming three years ago and only recently saw his daughter develop an interest.
“I helped her start her own project with just three rabbits,” he said.
