Zimbabweans turn to veganism
DANISA Mwaera and his spouse Phindile have lived strictly as vegans for more than three decades, meaning that during this time, the couple has not consumed any animal products. All four of their children have never tasted meat. Now aged 63 and 60, respectively, Mwaera and his spouse, based in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, have switched to producing vegan food in their backyard.
Their children, the eldest 32, claim they have never even felt tempted to stray from their vegan lifestyles and hope to pass on the culture to their families.
Veganism solution
“It’s good and healthy to be a vegan. We rarely fall sick and it is my hope that we will also pass the same lifestyle to our own generation,” Mendisi Mwaera (25) told Anadolu Agency.
Hillary Chinowaita, who works for the Agriculture ministry, said: “Organically-produced food taken systematically by vegans prolongs life and it’s very true.”
Unmarried younger Mwaera said, like his parents, he would set up an organic vegetable garden at his home and ensure his vegan family ate uncontaminated food.
A pattern the couple claimed it has abided by for years, it has made sure it maintains its organic vegetable garden in its backyard, meaning it does not have to buy food.
Vegan converts
The family has become vegan gospel spreaders in its community and now more and more people like 43-year-old Dheliwe Zamani have joined it after envying their lifestyle.
“I tell you, the Mwaera family members just look stunning in terms of their health, all so fit and youngish from the mother, the father and the children. The vegan lifestyle is good and I don’t regret joining it,” she told Anadolu Agency.
Global Vegan celebrations are attributed to Louise Wallis, who proposed the idea in 1994 as chairman of the vegan society in the United Kingdom and now Vegan Day is celebrated on November each year in different parts of the world to advocate veganism and its way of life.
Veganism saving environment
Zimbabwean nutritionists and environmentalists have teamed up to hail the benefits of veganism for humans and the natural environment.
“Vegans are the true practical example of what people should do when they want to lead health long lives. They hardly contract diseases like cancer, diabetes and many others,”Tynos Muhalaphe, a Harare-based nutritionist told Anadolu Agency.
For Zimbabwean environmental experts like Doson Hamandishe, vegans are helping to save the environment.
“They plant fruit trees for their fruits which is part of their diet, and this means trees are safe with vegans as they practise afforestation. They also don’t eat meat or any animal products, meaning wildlife is safe in the hands of vegans, since they grow their own vegetables throughout the year,” Hamandishe said.
Rising vegan business
Yet as vegetarianism gains fame across Zimbabwe, vegan restaurants are emerging in major cities like Harare, Masvingo and Victoria Falls.
As more and more people turn to veganism, Mikaela stepped up to the growing demand for vegetarian foods, offering weekly changing menus using fresh and seasonal ingredients, at times providing fresh or frozen food for vegans wanting to stock up.
Entrepreneurs like Mikaela have seized the opportunity to grow their business, with many affluent clients coming to the restaurant and Harare’s high-profile residents eager to change their life with a plantbased diet.
Veganism scorned by the poor
But for residents from the low-income suburbs of Harare, like 24-year-old Elina Chuma, nothing is fascinating about eating vegetables because vegetableeating is a sign of poverty.
“In my family, we rarely have meat, not because it’s by choice, but because we can’t afford it.
“Yet we also would love to eat meat everyday if we could afford,” Chuma said.
As poor Zimbabweans crave for meat even as vegetarianism gains fame, health challenges have forced many Zimbabweans to switch to vegan diets.
“I battled high blood pressure as a teenager and after getting advice on diet from a close friend who is a vegan, I said let me give it a try and here I’m now with zero blood pressure,” said Chuma.
Yet, she has always been one of many Zimbabweans who have shunned vegetarianism.
After being afflicted by high blood pressure, Chuma has become a staunch advocate for vegetarianism, this as many Zimbabweans like her struggle to lead healthy lifestyles. For Chuma, vegetarianism has become the way to go.