Zim launches My Food is Zimbabwean Alliance

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

EFFORTS to attain food sovereignty through the growing, marketing, consumption and celebration of traditional food in Zimbabwe have reached a new level following the launch of a grouping that caters for such.

Named My Food is Zimbabwean Alliance, the collaboration seeks to find ways of which local traditional food can be the main dish of Zimbabwe and countries beyond.

On June 06, 2024, founding members of the My Food is Zimbabwean Alliance converged in Harare to launch the initiative. The alliance shall operate usingthe following four arms: (a) festivals and celebrations (b) reaching young people, (c) marketing and commercialisation and (d) influencing policy. Each of the four groups had time to deliberate on its three-year plans.

The festivals and celebrations arm planned to hold festivals in urban and peri-urban areas. It also proposed to compliment the fun bus with cooking demos where people can taste Zimbabwean dishes.
On reaching young people, members suggested to introduce field days in educational institutions in order to motivate fellow students to consume Zimbabwean food.

The marketing and commercialization arm said that it shall put much emphasises on putting Zimbabwean food in the whole food system. It suggested that seed and food fairs should be taken out of production areas mainly rural area and be brought to urban markets where traders and processors meet.

On influencing policy, the members planned to approach the Government with one voice and also target low hanging fruits of capitalising on the policies that are already available.

Before its endorsement, a Constitution for the Alliance was presented for scrutinity. Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association Zimbabwe’s Bertha Nherera outlined how the alliance got into formation.

“We came out with Terms of references after the first meeting. We took it to a lawyer, who recommended that they be developed into a constitution which is more binding and effective,” she said.
Finally, the Alliance was officially launched. All founding members had the honour to endorsement the legal document.

As the founding members retreated to their respective areas, there was no doubt that My Food is Zimbabwean Alliance is rearing to go and geared to reach greater heights.

Before its endorsement, a Constitution for the Alliance was presented to the members for scrutinity. Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association Zimbabwe’s Bertha Nherera outlined how the alliance got into its formation.

“We came out with Terms of references after the first meeting. We took it to a lawyer, who recommended that the terms should be developed into a constitution since a constitution is more binding and effective,” she said.

Finally, the Alliance was officially launched. All founding members had the honour and joy to endorsement the legal document.

As the founding members retreated to their respective areas, there was no doubt that My Food is Zimbabwean Alliance is rearing to go and geared to reach greater heights.