Zimbabwean Urban Gardeners Outraged as Authorities Cut Down Maize Crops
Urban management specialists say planting crops in certain areas must be
regulated to prevent soil erosion and the accumulation of silt, among other
detrimental effects that can arise from city farming
Patience Rusere | Washington 13 January 2011
Maize meal or “mealie meal” is a staple of the typical Zimbabwean diet
Many residents of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare and the country’s
second-largest city, Bulawayo, have been up in arms recently over the
destruction by authorities of maize crops planted in urban gardens to
supplement food supplies and stretch minimal incomes.
The Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai is holds a political majority on the Harare and Bulawayo city
councils, but has protested that it had nothing to do with the slashing of
urban maize crops. It accused police in Harare of destroying the technically
illegal crops to tarnish the council’s image.
Yet urban management specialists say planting crops in certain areas must be
regulated to prevent soil erosion and the accumulation of silt, among other
detrimental effects.
For more on this debate VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere spoke with
Shamiso Mtisi, a lawyer with the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association,
and Precious Shumba, coordinator of the Harare Residents Trust.
Shumba said Zimbabweans must raise crops wherever they live as a matter of
survival.
Maize meal or “mealie meal” is a staple of the typical Zimbabwean diet.