Zimbabwe Cracks Down on Urban Gardeners

Authorities in Zimbabwe are destroying vegetable gardens, planted in vacant areas by the urban poor, claiming that they are causing "massive environmental damage" (SignOnSanDiego.com). Years of drought and low agricultural production caused by government redistribution of farmland have resulted in a severe shortage of food. Even residents of more affluent neighborhoods had taken to planting crops in their yards.

Government officials claim that the urban agriculture is degrading city water sources. Land had been set aside at the edge of Harare for city dwellers to grow crops last year. It is not yet clear how those areas will be affected by the crackdown.

Links:

• Zimbabwe government extends crackdown, begins destroying urban vegetable gardens from SignOnSanDiego.com


• Zimbabwe begins destroying vegetable gardens a similar article from Independent Online


• Zimbabwe Bans Urban Agriculture a somewhat broader perspective from Voice of America

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 4:38 PM on June 24, 2005