By Simba Matake
Chitungwiza Municipality has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting urban agriculture and household food security following the launch of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme for Harare Metropolitan Province, which is expected to benefit 200,000 people across the province.
Chitungwiza Mayor Councillor Rosaria Mangoma joined Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Senator Charles Tawengwa at the provincial launch held on Tuesday at Zengeza 2 High School, where Government highlighted the importance of urban agriculture in strengthening food security and improving household livelihoods.
The programme seeks to encourage urban households to make productive use of available land, including backyard spaces, open spaces and peri-urban plots, as part of broader efforts to increase food production and reduce household vulnerability to food shortages.
Speaking at the event, Minister Tawengwa said the initiative was designed to ensure that urban communities also contribute meaningfully to national food security through small-scale agricultural activities.
He said the programme would promote the utilisation of underused spaces within urban settlements, enabling households to grow their own food and improve their livelihoods.
Tawengwa said: “We want to see our urban communities making productive use of the spaces available to them. Backyards, open spaces and peri-urban plots can all be utilised for agricultural production and contribute towards household food security.”
He added that Government was working with local authorities and other stakeholders to establish accessible community gardens and specialised micro-gardening units targeting marginalised groups and persons with disabilities.
“Government is working together with local authorities and other stakeholders to establish accessible community gardens and specialised micro-gardening units for marginalised groups and persons with disabilities,” Tawengwa said.
The initiative is expected to broaden participation in agricultural production by creating opportunities for communities that may not have access to conventional farming land.
During the event, Minister Tawengwa and Mayor Mangoma toured various income-generating projects at Zengeza 2 High School, including crop farming, bread making and beekeeping.
The delegation commended the school for embracing practical income-generating initiatives, noting the importance of institutions developing sustainable projects that promote self-reliance, skills development and productivity.
The school’s projects demonstrated how available resources and spaces can be transformed into productive ventures capable of supporting institutional development while equipping learners with practical skills.
Speaking on the importance of extending the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme to urban communities, Cllr Mangoma thanked Government for recognising the role that urban residents can play in strengthening food production.
She said: “We want to thank Government for extending this programme to urban communities. This gives our residents an opportunity to participate in food production and contribute directly to food security at household level.”
Mangoma emphasised that food security should not be viewed as the responsibility of rural farming communities alone, but as a collective effort requiring participation from every household.
“Food security begins at household level, and every household has a role to play,” she said.
She said urban agriculture could help households become more self-reliant while making better use of available spaces within residential areas.
Mangoma’s participation in the provincial launch highlighted Chitungwiza Municipality’s support for urban agriculture as a means of improving residents’ livelihoods and encouraging productive use of available spaces.
The inclusion of community gardens and micro-gardening facilities for vulnerable groups is also expected to promote greater participation in agriculture, ensuring that persons with disabilities and other marginalised communities are not left behind.
With 200,000 people targeted across Harare Metropolitan Province, the Pfumvudza/Intwasa initiative is expected to strengthen household food security while promoting a culture of self-reliance, community participation and sustainable urban agriculture.