By Michael Gwarisa
In a move set to enhance public awareness and promote domestic financing for nutrition interventions in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisation for Scaling Up Nutrition (ZCSOSUNA) has launched a High-Level Nutrition Advocacy and Parliamentary Engagement Project.
Funded by UNICEF in collaboration with key government ministries and departments, the 12-month project aims to strengthen nutrition advocacy and deepen engagement with policymakers on child nutrition and development.
Speaking at the project’s inception meeting in Harare, Mr. Kudakwashe Zombe, ZCSOSUNA National Coordinator, said the initiative will target 140 parliamentarians from various portfolio committees.
On this project, we are mainly focusing on the senior parliament, although we are likely to have engagements with junior parliamentarians. We are targeting parliamentarians from the portfolio committees on Health and Child Care, Agriculture, Primary and Secondary Education, and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare,” said Mr. Zombe.
He added that out of the 140 parliamentarians, they intend to select 15 “nutrition champions” to spearhead advocacy for increased domestic nutrition financing and raise the profile of nutrition issues at the highest levels.
“You’ll find that no engagements have been made so far with the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe, which is the current parliament since the 2023 general elections. The network lost all its previous nutrition champions in both the Senate and National Assembly due to the elections,” he said.
The project’s objectives include enhancing parliamentarians’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of nutrition and early childhood development, as well as equipping them with the tools and resources needed to address malnutrition and improve child outcomes through legislative and oversight roles.
“The network also aims to support citizens in holding parliament to account and will work with nutrition champions to ensure they have the required skills to champion this cause in parliament,” added Mr. Zombe.
As part of its implementation strategy, the project will host workshops and seminars to provide in-depth briefings and facilitate expert discussions on nutrition. Parliamentary tours and training sessions will also be conducted to ensure policymakers gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition challenges and the urgency of addressing malnutrition in Zimbabwe.
Siboniso Chigova, Deputy Director Nutrition at the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC), noted that the initiative aligns well with the government’s National Development Strategy.
“This is a key project for the country, and it has come at an opportune time when we need to raise our voices and amplify the nutrition issues affecting our communities. We’re even looking at food systems—how are our communities being fed? Are consumers aware of what they are consuming? These key issues must be amplified, including climate change and ensuring nutrition is prioritized under National Development Strategy 2,” said Chigova.
Dr. Tonderai Matsungo, a nutrition academic from the University of Zimbabwe, expressed strong support for the initiative.
“As the academic community, we are in full support of this initiative as it promotes and strengthens efforts to improve nutrition. We are behind you all the way,” said Dr. Matsungo.
During the 12-month period, a budget analysis for the 2024 fiscal year will be conducted to assess domestic investments in nutrition and evaluate progress on national commitments. The project will also identify and empower nutrition champions while leveraging media platforms to amplify their voices and enhance public awareness. Furthermore, the development and dissemination of knowledge products will help increase citizens’ understanding of nutrition challenges and solutions.
Having a high-level advocacy forum that actively engages parliamentarians and policymakers is critical for advancing child nutrition in Zimbabwe. Such platforms ensure that nutrition is not only prioritized in national development agendas but also backed by strong political will and sustainable domestic financing. They provide an opportunity to educate lawmakers on the far-reaching impacts of malnutrition—from stunted growth and poor cognitive development in children to increased healthcare costs and reduced economic productivity.
