Celebrity chef Carl Joshua Ncube preparing for UNWTO Africa Gastronomy Forum in Victoria Falls

WITH barely over a week left before Victoria Falls welcomes delegates for the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Africa Gastronomy extravaganza, celebrity chef Carl Joshua Ncube is eagerly anticipating his role in the festivities.

The forum will take place in Victoria Falls, from July 26-28.

Ncube expressed his happiness at being part of the forum.

“This is such a tremendous opportunity for our efforts to bolster rural economies through tourism products such as food, recipe development, and export processing. I must sincerely thank our First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for her pivotal role in promoting our traditional foods into the mainstream. Her support has significantly amplified a much-needed voice.

“To the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industries, thank you for the opportunity. Honourable Minister Barbara Rwodzi’s approach to tourism clusters has enabled smaller players like Rural BnB to structure our ambitious ideas and follow an organised path to implementation. I am confident that this event marks a significant milestone for me, our company, and the rural communities we represent, allowing us to showcase a part of our work,” he said.

Ncube is known for his culinary skills which have seen him working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industries to push gastronomic tourism in and around the country.

Recently, he partook at the “Imiklomelo kaDakamela” held in Nkayi, serving esteemed guests.

The UN Tourism is set to host its first Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, furthering its efforts to establish gastronomy tourism as a pillar for sustainable and inclusive growth across the region.

Hosted under the patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr Auxillia C Mnangagwa, and co-organised with Basque Culinary Centre, the forum aims to harness the transformative power of gastronomy tourism to benefit local communities and territories throughout the African continent.

@MbuleloMpofu