70 buses for Gastronomy extravaganza in Falls

GOVERNMENT has availed 70 buses to transport people from across Matabeleland North Province to Victoria Falls for the official opening of the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) Regional Forum on Gastronomy for Africa.

President Mnangagwa is set to officially open the event tomorrow, underscoring the country’s commitment to promoting tourism and gastronomy as key sectors for economic growth and cultural exchange.

The UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy for Africa aims to highlight the continent’s rich culinary heritage and its potential to boost tourism. The forum will bring together experts, chefs, and policymakers to discuss strategies for leveraging Africa’s diverse gastronomy to attract more visitors and enhance the tourism experience.

The provision of 70 buses demonstrates Government’s effort to ensure broad participation from the province, allowing local communities to engage in the event and benefit from the opportunities it presents. This move is part of a broader strategy to promote inclusive growth and ensure that the benefits of tourism development are felt across different regions of the country.

The event in Victoria Falls, a premier tourist destination in Zimbabwe, is expected to draw significant attention and participation, further cementing the city’s reputation as a hub for international conferences and tourism activities.

Delegates had started arriving yesterday with the majority expected today for the three-day inaugural summit where 10 000 people are expected on the first day tomorrow.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo said the event puts the province on the spotlight.

“We are more than ready as a province to host this big event and we have been allocated 70 buses to carry people from across the province. This puts Victoria Falls in the spotlight and hosting this gastronomy event in Victoria Falls is a significant milestone,” he said.

“So with all the 10 000 people coming for the official opening by His Excellency, that means some will buy at least something from shops, vendors and small and medium enterprises which on its own boosts the economy of the city.”

The thousands of locals from around the country are expected to attend to celebrate together with the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for her recognition by the UN Tourism as a champion of culture and culinary tourism.

Accommodation facilities including urban and rural AirBnBs are fully booked with some residents cashing in on overspills by converting their houses into lodges.

Zimbabwe was chosen to host the forum in recognition of the work being done by the First Lady who has been promoting the concept of gastronomy tourism from the grassroots in the wake of an exceptional exhibition of the country’s culture and cuisine by a Zimbabwean delegation at a similar forum held in Spain in October last year.

The First Lady has been instrumental in advocating gastronomy tourism through her humanitarian work through her Angel of Hope Foundation locally and abroad and has also pushed the gastronomy tourism agenda, thereby helping market the country’s traditional cuisines.

The inaugural event sets the destination as a leader in gastronomy in the motherland as the Government pursues a new agenda of introducing new tourism activities and packages with sports, gastronomy, religious and cultural tourism top on the agenda.

The First Lady has been promoting cultural norms and values through the National Traditional Cookout Competition where citizens have been showcasing traditional foods from ward up to national level.

National finals were held in Mutare on May 24.

Ms Sindisiwe Ngwenya represented the province at the national event and is one of the three from the province who are representing the country at the summit to be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his Bureau.

“I am excited to be representing my country at this event where we will be cooking and showcasing traditional foods.

“This is a great moment which started at the ward level and here we are at the international level,” she said.

“We are excited that we will be meeting others from around the world.”

Ms Blessed Mutengezanwa, a tourism and hospitality management student at Lupane State University (LSU) and a beneficiary of the UN scholarship, said she is also ready to represent the country in the student category.

She won the provincial competitions in the category and is now among 10 students representing Zimbabwe.

“As a beneficiary of the scholarship, I was then exposed to making sure I present culinary that represents our traditions. I am very proud of this opportunity where I will be exposed to different people,” said Ms Mutengezanwa.

“I hope this will take me to a better level to market Zimbabwe out there.”

Gastronomy speaks to product diversification and the use of traditional foods and indigenous knowledge systems as a tourism attraction.
Stakes are high as the whole tourism value chain from big hotels and lodges, tour operators, transport, and horticulture to curio and food vendors are expected to benefit from the three-day event.—@ncubeleon