Integrating Urban Agriculture into Resilient Urban Planning: A Review of Guerrilla Agro Urbanism and Food Security in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Urban food insecurity in African cities reflects deep structural gaps in planning, governance, and service delivery. This review examines how guerrilla agro-urbanism, the (in)formal community-led socio-economic use of vacant urban land, can be strategically integrated into resilient urban planning in Harare, Zimbabwe. Its low-cost, adaptive practices outside formal regulation, guerrilla agro-urbanism, is critical in enhancing food security, generating income, and delivering environmental benefits. However, it remains largely invisible in policy as it is seen as a threat to what is viewed as “modern cities” landscapes. The paper identifies both opportunities and constraints based on historical analysis, global and African case studies, and Zimbabwe’s legal and planning frameworks. Key barriers include insecure land tenure, inadequate legal recognition, and environmental risks. The review proposes reforms centred on formal policy recognition, secure and equitable land access, safe agricultural practices, and community participation, aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the SDGs, and devolved governance systems. By reframing informality as an asset rather than a threat, this study offers a pathway for transforming guerrilla agro-urbanism from a survival strategy into a pillar of inclusive, climate-resilient urban food systems. The findings intrigue further debates on sustainable urban planning, putting into perspective the realities of urban residents. It also provides actionable insights for policymakers, planners, and stakeholders committed to sustainable urban development in the Global South.