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As preparations for the second edition on the Harare International Carnival gather momentum, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has started sourcing input from people through various activities in the country.
In a meeting with artistes, cooperates, participants, show promoters and other stakeholders at a local hotel yesterday, acting ZTA chief executive Tesa Chikaponya highlighted that the move was aimed at improving this year’s event while correcting mistakes made last year.
The carnival will take place in May.
“We are taking suggestions from everyone because this carnival is for the people. We want everyone to leave their homes and come to town for the carnival and that can only happen when more people contribute to the planning,” she said
A suggested programme was presented and debated upon by the stakeholders who also raised valid points.
Some of these were on the need for creativity on presentations during the street parades, effective time allocations to performing groups, a carnival theme song, the need to instill carnival fever in non-participants and the appointment of a board of trustees.
“We all need to be agents in promoting this carnival so we will have activities like clean up campaigns, before and after the carnival. Tourism thrives in a clean environment,” said Chikaponya.
This year’s edition will feature a Bira Night that will be held in Domboshava, an Africa day discussion at the Book Café, a Samba Night at the Airport Lounge, Carnival Fashion Show, Carnival Jazz Night, and Exotic Night at Red Fox among others.
“The whole city is supposed to be on fire and we have done our best to spread the events in different areas. However May 24 will see the carnival street party being the main event on the day and no side events will take place to ensure more people show up for it.”
Chikaponya also spoke about the May 25 music concert saying they were yet to finalise with a “big” artiste who would perform on the day.
While she refused to shed more light on the matter, American RnB star R Kelly had been hinted to be taking part at the carnival earlier this year.
The last topic on the agenda was the Cape Town carnival that will be taking place over the weekend.
The secretariat at ZTA will be attending in order to learn more on carnivals.
This development did not go down well with the stakeholders who felt artistes and performers were the best candidates to attend.
Online Reporter