Food has always brought people together. Beyond nourishment, it reflects connection, tradition, and shared experiences across many African cultures. Yet for some people, food can also become a source of exclusion. Meat carries a strong cultural and social meaning, playing an important role in celebratory meals during ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and family gatherings. As a result, those who choose to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and not eat meat can sometimes be interpreted as also rejecting hospitality and tradition. The challenges vegetarians and vegans face extend beyond social expectations, however, reflecting broader issues of accessibility and affordability in Africa.
Meat-Free By Choice or By Circumstance
Despite 63% of Zimbabweans eating primarily vegetables due to the high cost of meat, the concepts of vegetarianism and veganism are still relatively unknown. Choosing to fully abstain from eating meat is often viewed as an unfamiliar or “Western” lifestyle in some African communities. This can lead to misunderstandings, social pressure, or limited food options.
My friend Tino started to transition into vegetarianism while living abroad. She was inspired by cooking meals with her vegetarian boyfriend, which helped her better understand what meat-free eating could look like in practice. Over time, her food choices became increasingly shaped by concerns around sustainability, environmental impact, and reducing her carbon footprint, eventually leading her to adopt a fully vegan lifestyle in 2020. For Tino, veganism is not about restrictions. It is about eating with intention.
Credit: Elise Hankins and Chris Bryant via The Vegan Society
Familiar Spaces and Traditions in a Different Context
When she returned to Zimbabwe, she realized for the first time just how deeply meat was embedded within everyday culture and social life. While her parents accepted her veganism, many people questioned her choice, often sharing misconceptions about vegan diets and their nutrition. She found that maintaining her vegan lifestyle required more planning in Zimbabwe than it had abroad, as plant-based restaurant and grocery options are limited.
Food should bring people together, not exclude. Not everyone should or can become a vegan, but everyone is capable of accepting food diversity. Some, like Zimbabwean chef Nicola Kagoro, are working to improve conditions for vegans in Zimbabwe, challenging traditional ideas about the necessity of meat by creating plant-based meals that still reflect and respect cultural dining traditions.
Understanding and Agreement Not Required. Respect is.
Although awareness around plant-based lifestyles is gradually growing, especially in urban spaces, progress remains slow. Members of the majority often undervalue the impacts of inclusion, so the importance of being inclusive of food and diets is not always understood. Limited or poorly considered plant-based options are treated as an afterthought rather than a meaningful alternative, leaving people questioning whether their dietary choices are respected.
Something as simple as a meal can make you feel as though you belong in your own community. With the lack of data and public discussion surrounding vegetarianism and veganism in Zimbabwe, sharing personal experiences like Tino and Kagoro’s becomes especially important to illustrate how food, culture, and inclusion intersect. Zimbabweans need to create spaces where different identities and lifestyles are not only recognised, but meaningfully accommodated. Food should always connect people, even when their plates look different.
This article was written by a guest contributor, F. Makoni.
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