Traditional leadership applauds women-led organic food revolution

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

CHIMANIMANI – Traditional leaders in Chimanimani have praised a grassroots movement led by women to grow, consume, and preserve traditional seeds and organic foods. The praise came during the Chimanimani District Seed and Food Fair, held at Mukombwani Secondary School in Chikukwa on August 27–28, 2025.

The event, which drew a crowd of 2,243 people, was held under the theme: “Nurturing Our Future and Reviving our Heritage.”

In his address, Chief Saurombe, who attended alongside Chief Chikukwa, commented  that growing and consuming traditional small grains strengthens both the community and the nation.

“I salute the women here who have taught us so many things. We used to think that fruits could only be preserved through refrigeration, but you are drying them and adding value. Countries abroad are now consuming your products. This builds our nation.

“Growing small grains such as millet and sorghum gives you an advantage in this era of unpredictable droughts,” he said.

The fair was coordinated by a coalition of local organisations, including the Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Organisation (CELUO), Zivakwawakabva, Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO), Valley of Hope (VOH), Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers’ Forum (ZIMSOFF), and the Participatory Organic Research, Extension & Training Organisation (PORETO).

They received support from Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe.