Zimbabwe is recovering from a decade long (2000-2008) economic crisis that witnessed inflation reaching 230 million%. The crisis also caused shortages of goods and services and resulted in severe food insecurity especially among the urban poor who rely on purchased food. According to the United Nations Development Programme, the proportion of people in Zimbabwe living below the Food Poverty Line increased from 29% in 1995 to 58% in 2003. Further, there has been a general increase in malnutrition levels among children under five years. Concerning food supply, since the commencement of the economic crisis in 2000, Zimbabwe has turned into a net food importer. As the country regroups, urban agriculture could contribute significantly to improving food security for the urban poor. Despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2013, Zimbabwe is still governed by aged statutes that in most cases criminalise and hinder urban agriculture. The germane questions are – what is the extent to which local authorities can create the necessary legal framework to promote sustainable urban agriculture? What are the implications for the protection of environment and pollution? Can local governments be organised to render the necessary support to the urban agriculture? Using the rights-based approach, this article analyses the roles that the thirty-two urban local governments in Zimbabwe could play in establishing an enabling legal and administrative framework to support urban agriculture and improve food security for the urban poor

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