dyton mupawaenda
Walter Nyamukondiwa-Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
PEOPLE must grow and consume foods that thrive in their areas as a quicker way of promoting traditional dishes, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi has said.
This, she said, was key in helping create an economy around gastronomy through increased consumption, which would attract tourists worldwide to enjoy the traditional cuisines.
In a speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Cde Tongai Mnangagwa at the Amai’s Traditional Cookout Competition Mashonaland West provincial finals, Minister Rwodzi said such competitions had helped in promoting livelihoods, especially in rural communities.
“The initiative seeks to lead to the establishment of businesses as positive offshoots from participants,” she said.
“Gastronomy is getting the attention envisaged and from the party I come from (Zanu PF) we have resolved that it should be institutionalised.”
She said people stick to traditional foods that thrive in their climatic conditions as they had a positive impact on people’s health and well-being.
The minister praised First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for initiating the Traditional Cookout Competition saying the programme had grown beyond the country’s borders, showing its impact as a reminder for people to go back to their roots.
“Today marks yet another day we come together to celebrate the unfolding initiatives of the Second Republic leadership which seeks to transform the tourism sector and the nation at large through heritage based philosophy,” she said.
“As you may be aware, the Traditional Cookout Competition is a Programme introduced by the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Tourism Patron, and Champion of Gastronomy Tourism, Her Excellency, Dr A. Mnangagwa in 2019 with the aim of encouraging Zimbabweans to embrace consumption of traditional foods and preserve our culture and heritage.”
To show its impact, the country hosted the SADC Regional Gastronomy Competitions in Masvingo where eight countries participated, including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, DRC, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi and Nigeria.
Tourist arrivals have increased after the country hosted the Gastronomy forum in July last year.
The UN Tourism has availed scholarships to 200 students in the field of tourism, with Zimbabwe getting an opportunity to build a UN Tourism Academy for the SADC region in Victoria Falls. At least 50 people participated in four categories, including Students in Tourism or Culinary programmes, Professional Chefs, Communities and Persons with disabilities at this year’s competitions.
She said there was need to promote sustainable development, enhance the tourism value chain, preserve cultural heritage, and empower local communities across the continent.
Miss Petronellar Chaparadza who won the first prize in the category of people with disabilities said she was ecstatic and promised to represent Mashonaland West province well at the national finals in Manicaland Province.
Online Reporter