Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Lifestyle Senior Writer
THE festive season is fully upon us, with holiday-makers around the world celebrating joyfully.
Locally, we anticipate similar scenes from those who have saved enough to spend with their peers during this period.
Friends and acquaintances will reunite in popular eateries and watering holes after months of “separation,” each hustling to provide for their families.
Some retreat to their rural homes, while others go on vacation.
Last-minute shopping and unnecessary borrowing of cash frequently occur as people seek to keep up with trends and appearances.
This season reaches its peak on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when holiday-makers compete to outshine one another.
Bingeing and feasting are expected to take centre stage during this period.
The influence of the catering and hospitality industry will be prominently felt, as it plays a crucial role in facilitating this festive fun.
When discussing the catering and hospitality sector, it’s important to recognise the variety of key roles that contribute to the successful operation of events and food services.
Essential positions include those with culinary expertise creativity, and attention to detail.
Service staff, such as waiters and waitresses, are responsible for serving food and beverages, ensuring a pleasant dining experience for guests are needed.
In upscale venues, a robust food safety manager is essential to ensure compliance with health regulations and food safety standards.
While we celebrate with our peers, we must not forget the stewards working behind the scenes.
Their invaluable contributions often go unrecognised, yet they are responsible for cleaning dishes, utensils and kitchen equipment.
These roles work together to ensure that catering events run smoothly and meet client expectations effectively, especially during this period.
Research has shown that these professions are key drivers of success, especially as we enter the busy festive season heading to Christmas.
The mental wellness and self-esteem of workers in the catering industry must be prioritised, as productivity is closely linked to their fitness and overall well-being.
As we enter this season, during which catering practitioners often work long hours, the General Secretary of the National Employment Council (NEC) for the Catering Industry, Tendai Thsakisani Makavani, has valuable insights to share with stakeholders in the field.
With her years of experience, now is the perfect time to implement her advice.
After all, caterers will be in high demand, from family gatherings to large-scale celebrations, as joyous festivities unfold.
“The mental wellness and health of employees in the catering industry matter,” stressed Makavani ahead of the festive season.
“Our mandate is to regulate labour practices, as we have noticed several challenges affecting workers in this sector. Long working hours can create stress and fatigue, while health and safety must always be a priority. Poor salaries, which erode morale, is another issue we have observed that needs to be addressed.”
Makavani, who recently empowered players in the catering and hospitality industry in Harare ahead of the festive season, noted that most staff members require wellness programmes.
She emphasised that the mental wellness of those who serve diners — whether at family gatherings or corporate events — should be prioritised not only during the festive season but year-round.
“By regularly conducting such programmes with major players in our industry, we help them to de-stress, because this job can be strenuous at times,” she shared.
Considering the festive season, she highlighted that the mental wellness she champions is vital for coping with emotional challenges.
“An excessive workload can be emotionally taxing for some, making support systems and wellness practices even more critical. Focusing on mental wellness is not just beneficial for the individual; it enhances overall business performance and customer satisfaction. Implementing wellness programmes, stress management training, and providing support can help cultivate a healthier work environment during this demanding time,” she pointed out.
Makavani, who also contributes to the leading catering magazine, “Catering Dot Com”, believes it’s never too late to address challenges faced in the industry.
While many upscale players are targeted, those at the family level can also benefit and understand their labour rights, as they perform similar jobs.
“Our vision is to become the premier labour market institution in Zimbabwe, advancing fair labour standards, ethical governance and sustainable collective bargaining. The NEC plays an important role in promoting fair labour standards and decent work in the industry.
“Therefore, it is essential that the NEC leads the way in promoting catering and hospitality industry workers’ rights,” she stressed.
Although the welfare of players in this sector is often reviewed at the Annual Wellness Day for the NEC, Makavani is looking beyond 2025.
“The NEC intends to roll out sectoral wellness events in 2026 for the rest of the industry because wellness is a labour right. Promoting wellness is critical for enhanced productivity, and it is in the interest of all employers to invest in workplace wellness.”
She noted that mental wellness and health are crucial for workers in the catering and hospitality industry, especially during the festive season, for several reasons. Research shows that the festive season brings heightened demand for services, leading to long, intense workloads.
Workers in hospitality must maintain a positive demeanour and high service standards, which can be challenging under pressure.
Mental health profoundly impacts the ability to provide excellent customer service.
Additionally, a mentally healthy workforce fosters better teamwork and collaboration, vital in high-stress environments common during peak seasons.
This is an area Makavani has vowed to continue enforcing among stakeholders.
While the catering industry includes various players, such as fast food outlets, restaurants and hotels, the need for prioritising mental wellness is evident, as research has shown concerning trends.
Emphasising mental wellness can reduce burnout and turnover, both of which are particularly costly, an issue Makavani is actively addressing.
She has noted the growing demand for such initiatives following the Covid-19 pandemic, which left many in despair, and these initiatives have yielded positive results.
“All this positivity exists despite the catering industry, like many other sectors, facing unprecedented challenges — economic headwinds, shifting labour dynamics, and the lasting impact of a global pandemic that tested every thread of our social and economic fabric,” shared Makavani in the foreword of the latest issue of “Catering Dot Com” magazine.
She also highlighted the importance of prioritising the physical health of all players in the sector.
“Mental health issues can lead to physical ailments, which may increase absenteeism. Healthy workers are more productive and engaged.
“It’s always essential to check for employees who may have ailments that need addressing.”
With fast-food outlets proliferating everywhere, the festive season often blurs the boundaries between work and home life.
Many employees end up working long hours to take advantage of this lucrative season.
Given that family time is crucial, a lack of it can be detrimental, leading to weakened bonds that should never be compromised.
Supporting mental wellness helps workers manage their responsibilities and personal time better.
Furthermore, promoting mental health initiatives can boost morale and create a supportive culture, essential for dealing with seasonal stresses.
Makavani has championed these initiatives ahead of the festive season and has disseminated this knowledge to all affiliates.
In fact, she wants to restore normalcy in the catering and hospitality industry, which employs millions worldwide. After all, we need to ease our sorrows and celebrate our milestones by dining and wining in places of our choosing beyond this festive season.
