Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena Sunday Life Reporter
Bulawayo-based celebrated teacher and arts practitioner Trevor Mawaka has revealed that the City of Kings has a great potential to become a major tourism destination by combining its rich history with its vibrant arts, food and entertainment scene.
Mawaka made the observation after spending three days showing a group of Australian tourists around the city, giving them an experience that went beyond the usual daytime visits to tourist attractions.
The visitors, who also toured Victoria Falls and Harare during their Zimbabwean trip, specifically wanted to experience everyday life in Bulawayo, including its arts, entertainment and nightlife.
Mawaka said their curiosity showed that international visitors were interested in experiencing the city as it lived and breathed, rather than simply ticking monuments off a tourist itinerary.
During their three-day, three-night stay, the visitors toured the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, the Natural History Museum, the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo statue and other historic sites around the city centre.
The experience continued after sunset, with visits to local nightlife hubs.
Mawaka said one of the highlights was introducing the visitors to traditional Ndebele cuisine, with the tourists enjoying dishes such as amangqina (cow trotters) and inhloko (cow head).
“I had a great time showing two tourists from Australia around Bulawayo during their stay. They weren’t interested in just the usual daytime tourist attractions. They specifically wanted to experience the city’s local arts scene, entertainment venues and authentic nightlife in the evenings.
“They were very interested in the food and the culture behind it. They wanted to understand how people live and what they eat, not just what is presented for tourists,” he said.
Mawaka said his experience with the tourists was a reminder that Bulawayo’s tourism appeal extends beyond its historic buildings and monuments. He said the city’s relaxed atmosphere, local music, arts scene, traditional food and nightlife could form part of a distinctive tourism package.
“What really stood out was how drawn they were to our living culture, the music, local food spots, traditional cuisine and evening entertainment.
“Bulawayo has a unique, relaxed atmosphere and a rich local arts scene. We have an opportunity to blend our historical heritage with our active arts and cultural scene,” he said.
Mawaka said the Government and city authorities should recognise arts venues, cultural spaces and traditional food outlets as tourism assets. He also called for improved street lighting and safe evening transport around entertainment and cultural districts to make it easier for visitors to explore the city after dark.
Mawaka said Bulawayo should be marketed as a cultural capital, with its historical attractions promoted alongside its arts, entertainment and culinary experiences.
Local tourism operators, he said, could also develop day-to-night packages combining heritage tours with evening entertainment and traditional meals.
“I urge businesses to work together instead of operating in isolation, because partnerships between tour operators, artistes, restaurants, cultural spaces and entertainment venues could create a more seamless experience for visitors.
“Let us focus on our authenticity as we have our own talent, food, music and stories. What we already have is attractive to visitors,” said Mawaka.
Blessing Chizhande