SCOPE Zimbabwe

Celebrating a Champion of Agroecology and Environmental Stewardship

🎉 Happy 43rd Birthday to Kwanai Zimuye, affectionately known as Mr Shumba! 🎉

Today, the SCOPE Zimbabwe family joins together in celebrating not only the birthday of a valued colleague but also the remarkable contribution of a dedicated champion of agroecology, environmental stewardship, and sustainable food systems.

Mr Shumba joined SCOPE Zimbabwe on 13 December 2019 as a Field Officer, and since then he has consistently demonstrated passion, commitment, and leadership in advancing the organisation's vision of creating resilient communities through sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration.

As a firm believer in the "My Food is African" campaign, Mr Shumba has been at the forefront of promoting indigenous food systems, encouraging communities to embrace locally adapted crops, traditional vegetables, and sustainable farming practices that strengthen food sovereignty while preserving cultural heritage. Through his work, he continues to inspire farmers, schools, and communities to appreciate the value of African foods as a pathway to improved nutrition, climate resilience, and economic empowerment.

Beyond his field responsibilities, Mr Shumba is known for leading by example. His dedication to maintaining productive gardens, nurturing trees, conserving natural resources, and beautifying workspaces reflects the very principles that SCOPE Zimbabwe advocates. Whether tending a food forest, promoting soil health, conserving water, or encouraging biodiversity, he demonstrates that environmental stewardship begins with everyday actions.

His work reminds us that agroecology is more than a farming approach—it is a way of living that respects nature, restores ecosystems, and builds healthy communities. By nurturing the land and promoting indigenous foods, Mr Shumba helps advance a future where people and nature thrive together.

As we celebrate this special milestone, we thank him for his unwavering commitment, hard work, and the positive impact he continues to make in communities across Zimbabwe.

Happy Birthday, Mr Shumba! 🎂🎉

May this new year bring you good health, happiness, continued success, and many more opportunities to grow the seeds of change that are transforming lives and landscapes.

Celebrating a Major Milestone in Heritage-Based Education!

From 9–12 June 2026, SCOPE Zimbabwe hosted a successful multi-stakeholder book validation and teacher induction programme, bringing together officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, professors, lecturers, doctors, researchers, teachers, students, and community members.

The gathering focused on validating the **Seeding Local Cultures Facilitator's Guides** and the **My Foods Series**, developed for Infant, Primary, Secondary, and Higher & Tertiary Education levels.

These innovative learning resources promote indigenous knowledge systems, local food cultures, agroecology, nutrition education, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. They are designed to support Zimbabwe's Heritage-Based Curriculum and empower learners to connect classroom learning with real-life community experiences.

A key highlight of the books is the celebration of indigenous foods such as sorghum, rapoko, nhopi, traditional vegetables, nyii, and masawu, helping learners appreciate the nutritional, cultural, and environmental value of Zimbabwe's rich food heritage.

The validation process provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review, strengthen, and recommend the books for wider adoption as complementary resources within the Heritage-Based Curriculum framework.

SCOPE Zimbabwe is proud to work alongside government institutions, academic partners, educators, and communities in advancing sustainable education and preserving indigenous knowledge for future generations.

Together, we are cultivating learning that is rooted in culture, nourished by local knowledge, and inspired by a sustainable future.

Ecovillage Chitubu@followers

Mazungunye High School Builds a Sustainable Future with Rocket Stove Initiative

Over the weekend, Mazungunye High School in Bikita District, Masvingo Province, took another significant step towards environmental sustainability and improved learner welfare by constructing a Rocket Stove together with students and community members. The initiative was spearheaded with technical guidance and support from Mr. Mungani, SCOPE Zimbabwe Facilitator, with invaluable assistance from Mr. Kwira, the SCOPE Zimbabwe Focal Teacher at Mazungunye High School, as part of the organisation's ongoing efforts to promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD 2030) and green the school curriculum.

The hands-on activity saw learners actively participating in moulding, laying bricks, and understanding the science behind energy-efficient cooking technologies. Guided by both Mr. Mungani and Mr. Kwira, the students gained practical construction skills while deepening their understanding of climate action, sustainable resource management, and environmental stewardship.

Rocket stoves are increasingly becoming an important innovation for rural schools and communities. Unlike traditional open-fire cooking methods, they use significantly less firewood, produce less smoke, and cook meals faster. This reduces pressure on surrounding forests, lowers carbon emissions, and creates a healthier cooking environment, particularly for women and children who are often exposed to harmful smoke.

For schools implementing School Feeding Programmes, the rocket stove offers a practical and cost-effective solution by reducing fuel costs and ensuring that nutritious meals can be prepared more efficiently. Reliable school meals play a crucial role in improving learner attendance, concentration, and overall academic performance.

The project also aligns with Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the emerging priorities of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which place emphasis on environmental protection, sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, skills development, and community empowerment. By integrating sustainable technologies into education, schools become centres of innovation that contribute directly to national development goals.

Furthermore, the initiative supports the country's Heritage-Based Curriculum (HBC), which encourages experiential learning, innovation, problem-solving, and the use of indigenous and locally available resources to address community challenges. Learners are not only studying sustainability in the classroom but are actively applying it in real-life situations.

Through programmes such as these, SCOPE Zimbabwe continues to champion the greening of education by equipping young people with practical skills and environmental consciousness needed to build resilient communities. The active involvement of the school's SCOPE Zimbabwe Focal Teacher, Mr. Kwira, demonstrates the importance of building local leadership and ownership to ensure that sustainability initiatives become an integral part of everyday learning.

The Rocket Stove project at Mazungunye High School stands as a shining example of how education, community participation, and sustainable innovation can work together to create a brighter and greener future.

fans

Women Leaders Gather at SCOPE Zimbabwe for AWOLA Graduation and Inauguration Ceremony
SCOPE Zimbabwe is today hosting the two day African Women Leaders in Agroecology (AWOLA) Graduation and Inauguration Ceremony at Ecovillage @ Chitubu in Mt Hampden Harare, bringing together women leaders, mentors, development practitioners, government representatives, and agroecology stakeholders from across the region.
The event is celebrating the achievements of the AWOLA 3rd Cohort, who are completing a one-year leadership development journey that has strengthened their capacity to drive agroecological transformation within their communities and organisations. At the same time, the gathering is officially welcoming and inducting the AWOLA 4th Cohort, who will embark on their leadership and mentorship journey running from June 2026 to June 2027.
Organised by PELUM Zimbabwe, the event is providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaboration among women champions of agroecology. Participants are engaging in discussions on leadership, mentorship, food systems transformation, and strategies for strengthening women's voices in decision-making spaces.
As the programme unfolds, graduates are sharing their experiences and reflections from the past year, while incoming mentees and mentors are being introduced to the AWOLA learning journey. The event is also fostering stronger partnerships and connections among stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems in Africa.
Through initiatives such as AWOLA, women continue to be empowered as leaders and catalysts for change in agroecology and community development.

fans Ecovillage Chitubu

Poshayi Primary School Cultivating Green Futures Through Agroecology
Poshayi Primary School in Gweru, Midlands Province, is emerging as a model green school where learners, parents, and the community are working together to build sustainable livelihoods through agroecology.
Under the leadership of SCOPE Zimbabwe focal teacher Percy Mapudzi, a 15-member community group has established a thriving nursery, vegetable garden, orchard, and poultry project that is transforming the school into a practical learning and demonstration centre for climate-smart agriculture and environmental stewardship.
The initiative is producing healthy seedlings, nutritious vegetables, and chickens that are supporting household nutrition and generating income for families. Community members recently expanded the project after the school allocated additional land for an orchard with fruit trees, creating opportunities to strengthen biodiversity and intercropping practices within the school ecosystem.
Learners are actively participating in tree planting and green education activities, while parents are contributing to vegetable production and orchard management. This practical involvement is activating student agency and aligning with Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum by equipping learners with life skills, indigenous knowledge systems, environmental responsibility, and sustainable food production practices.
The project also speaks directly to SCOPE Zimbabwe’s vision of developing green schools that serve as learning and demonstration centres for eco-conscious communities. Through the organisation’s mantra of “Grow Your Own, Cook Your Own, Eat Your Own,” Poshayi Primary School is promoting healthy local food systems and advancing the My Food is African philosophy by encouraging communities to value indigenous foods, local production, and self-reliance.
Importantly, the initiative contributes towards the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) priorities on food security, climate resilience, nutrition, environmental protection, and community empowerment. By integrating schools and communities in agroecological learning, the project is helping build resilient households and sustainable futures for the next generation.
Sharing such stories is important because it inspires other schools and communities to adopt green education, strengthen environmental stewardship, and empower children and youths as agents of transformation in their communities.
At Poshayi Primary School, agroecology is not only growing food — it is growing knowledge, resilience, leadership, and hope for a greener future.

Happy Africa Day

Today we celebrate the beauty of African culture, indigenous knowledge, unity, and sustainable living. At SCOPE Zimbabwe, we are proud to promote agroecology, healthy local food systems, and empowered communities that continue to shape a resilient Africa.

Together, let us honour our roots, embrace our traditions, and inspire future generations to become agents of change through sustainable food production and environmental stewardship.

My Food Is African
Grow Your Own • Cook Your Own • Eat Your Own Food

https://youtu.be/bRHrzOeuzA0

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