Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka
SCOPE Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, will host the fourth Seeding Local Cultures – Integral Sustainability Learning Symposium from November 3 to 5 in Mt Hampden, Harare, as part of efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge and promote sustainable development.
The three-day event will be held under the theme, “Rooted Where We Are Seeded”, bringing together educators, learners, policymakers, researchers, community knowledge holders, youth and development practitioners to explore the role of education in promoting sustainable, climate-resilient and locally rooted development.
Researcher and economist Professor Upenyu Sakarombe said the symposium represented an important step in Zimbabwe’s developmental journey, urging communities to translate national aspirations into practical action.
“The symposium comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to strengthen education and human capital development while responding to climate change, food insecurity, environmental degradation and changing livelihood needs,” he said.
“It will provide a platform for participants to share experiences, research, indigenous knowledge and practical approaches that can help strengthen sustainability learning in schools, communities and higher education institutions,” he said.
Prof Sakarombe said the event was aligned with the country’s national development priorities under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the current National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) 2026–2030.
He said the symposium would contribute to priorities such as human capital development, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, food and nutrition security, innovation, youth development and sustainable livelihoods.
The symposium will also build on SCOPE Zimbabwe’s ongoing work with schools and communities to promote agroecology, indigenous knowledge systems, food sovereignty, nutrition, climate education, green enterprises and transformative learning.
He said the key areas of discussion will include Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Agroecology; Food Sovereignty and Nutrition; Women’s Leadership; Green Enterprises; and Digital Futures, Artificial Intelligence and Child Safety.
The 2026 symposium is expected to attract more than 150 participants, including representatives from pilot schools, higher and tertiary education institutions, government, civil society organisations, researchers and community-based knowledge holders. Institutions participating in the wider SLC community of practice include Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Reformed Church University, Rhodes University, Mkoba Teachers College and Bondolfi Teachers College.
Scope Zimbabwe’s communications and advocacy coordinator, Mr Tony Phiri, said the event seeks to strengthen collaboration among different actors and create opportunities for participants to learn from one another while developing locally relevant responses to sustainability and climate challenges.
“The Symposium forms part of a broader learning journey that seeks to move beyond conventional approaches to education by connecting classroom learning with communities, local knowledge, food systems and the environment,” he said.
“We intend to move beyond theory and become connected to the everyday realities of life. Our major work is in agroecology, sustainability, education, food sovereignty, indigenous knowledge, climate resilience and community learning.”
The 2026 edition will continue the SLC journey of creating spaces where educators, learners and communities can share experiences and explore practical pathways towards just transitions and climate-resilient futures.
The symposium is expected to attract over 200 participants, including representatives from schools, higher and tertiary education institutions, Government, communities and development organisations.
