Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe Zimpapers Business Hub
Zimbabwe is strengthening its food systems and promoting sustainability through the Green Action Week Programme, which is empowering communities to embrace indigenous crops and traditional foods in the face of unpredictable weather patterns and recurring droughts.
The nationwide initiative that has so far covered Manicaand and Masvingo, spearheaded by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) in partnership with Consumer Action Clubs (CACs), is anchored on promoting sustainable lifestyles by encouraging consumers to reclaim control over their food and farming systems.
Running under the theme “Promotion of Indigenous Foods”, the campaign celebrates local crops and dishes that are highly nutritious and better suited to Zimbabwe’s soils and climate. This dovetails with the 2025 World Consumer Rights Day theme, which underscores consumer participation in sustainable living.
CCZ said the programme, now active across all ten provinces, equips local CACs with skills in seed saving and conservation of traditional, climate-resilient crop varieties.
“Through workshops, field demonstrations and seed fairs, communities are encouraged to build food exchange networks that preserve crop diversity while strengthening collaboration and knowledge-sharing,” CCZ said.
The council added that the initiative is not only about agriculture, but about resilience and pride in local heritage.
“The Green Action Week Programme offers a solution rooted in local knowledge and self-reliance. It is about power, resilience and pride in our heritage. By empowering consumers to save their own seeds and grow traditional foods, we are taking back control of our future,” CCZ said.
In line with the World Consumer Rights Day theme, “A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles,” CCZ said the initiative was giving consumers a central role in safeguarding their future while promoting food security and sustainable development.
