Blessings Chidakwa-Senior Reporter
TRADITIONAL delicacies, cultural teachings and a vibrant fashion showcase marked the inaugural Muslim Cookout Competition yesterday, as jubilant crowds embraced First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s drive to promote gastronomy tourism and preserve Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage.
Enthusiastic community members turned out in large numbers at Thompson Masjid Mosque in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East Province, where Mother Zimbabwe implored them to turn Zimbabwe’s rich culinary heritage into business opportunities through gastronomy tourism.
Participants showcased indigenous cuisine, girls from Muslim and non-Muslim communities benefited from a Nhanga session, while Muslim women modelled beautiful hijabs paired with chitenge and capulana outfits, celebrating Zimbabwean dress and modest fashion.
The event, organised by Tose Tirivemuno and Greater Harare Muslim Women Dawah, provided a platform for participants, youths and people with disabilities to showcase their culinary skills, creativity and expertise in preparing traditional dishes.
Africa’s Queen of Gastronomy, Dr Mnangagwa, who is the country’s Culture and Heritage Ambassador, was invited as the guest of honour in recognition of her efforts to promote Zimbabwean cuisine through the Amai’s Traditional Cookout Competition.
Dr Mnangagwa introduced the Amai’s Traditional Cookout Competition in 2019, involving chiefs’ wives, to promote the diversity of Zimbabwe’s traditional foods, many of which are valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties.
The programme has since been implemented under the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and expanded beyond its original focus on women to include students, religious denominations, professional chefs, youths, people with disabilities and inmates, among others.
To kick-start the event, Dr Mnangagwa toured the exhibition stands, engaging participants and listening to explanations of how various dishes were prepared, including their nutritional and medicinal benefits.
She also applauded their creativity and asked the youths who had prepared the food whether they were proud to eat traditional dishes. The girls confidently responded that the food was beneficial.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa imparts traditional values and the spirit of Ubuntu to girls during a nhanga session at her inaugural Muslim Cookout Competition in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East Province yesterday.
Among the dishes on display were sadza made from zviyo, mhunga and white mealie meal, gwatakwata, mbambaira with peanut butter, derere, muboora, bonongwe, haifiridzi, cassava and sweet potato leaves, mufushwa wemunyemba, hohwa une dovi, matemba, rabbit meat and roasted free-range chicken, popularly known as roadrunner.
Other offerings included mutakura, nyemba mixed with sweet potatoes, mukuyu, bread made from finger millet meal mixed with banana, pumpkin cooked with milk and served with peanut butter, as well as cooked mangoes and bananas. The dishes showcased the creativity and diversity of indigenous cuisine.
Traditional beverages included juice made from mubvee, mawuyu and milk, while mazhanje and matamba featured in the fruit display. The variety highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous food knowledge and promoting locally available ingredients as part of Zimbabwe’s culinary heritage.
The Muslim community members also shared some of the indigenous foods they traditionally eat after fasting including Uji, explaining that these meals help restore their energy and give them strength.
Winners received prizes, while the First Lady ensured that all contestants also received food hampers in appreciation of their participation and contribution to promoting Zimbabwean gastronomy.
In the People with Disabilities category, Sarah Mussah won first prize.
Halima Ngunda emerged the winner in the Youths category, while Saina Chilupane scooped first prize in the Women’s category.
After the tour, the First Lady proceeded to the Nhanga session with the girls. Interacting with the girls alongside elderly women from the Muslim community and chiefs’ wives, the First Lady shared guidance on cultural values, discipline and responsible conduct with girls from Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
She encouraged the girls to share their experiences, learn from one another, uphold their cultural and moral values, respect their identity and make responsible choices as they navigated life.
“As mothers, we are concerned when we see young girls dressing in ways that expose them to challenges. We are fortunate to have churches that teach our children about decent dressing and good morals. Let us cherish these teachings and uphold the values of our faith.
“My daughters, as you grow, remain rooted in your religion and cultural values. The guidance you receive here should remain with you even when you leave this place and face the outside world. As your mothers, we are nurturing and protecting you here, while preparing you to navigate the wider world with confidence and wisdom,” she said.
Participants at the First Lady’s inaugural Muslim Cookout Competition showcase their traditional cuisine in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East Province.
Dr Mnangagwa encouraged the girls to recognise their worth, take pride in who they are and think carefully about the women they aspire to become.
“My child, do you know how valuable you are? Are you taking good care of yourself? Do you understand who you are and what you stand for? What are your aspirations?
“Tomorrow, who do you want to become?” she asked.
The girls responded confidently, with some aspiring to become doctors, pilots and future women leaders.
An elderly Muslim woman explained that, in Islam, mothers begin teaching girls personal grooming and modesty from a young age, particularly as they approach adolescence.
Girls are taught to dress appropriately at home around their fathers, brothers and other close male relatives they cannot marry. Outside the home, they are encouraged to dress modestly and cover themselves, demonstrating self-respect and respect for those around them.
After touring the gastronomy displays and sharing life lessons with the girls during the Nhanga session, Dr Mnangagwa joined a packed gathering, where community members warmly welcomed her before witnessing a vibrant fashion showcase.
In her address, Dr Mnangagwa implored communities to turn Zimbabwe’s rich culinary heritage into business opportunities, saying gastronomy tourism could drive inclusive economic growth while preserving the country’s cultural identity.
The First Lady encouraged participants to use the skills they had gained to establish businesses and improve their livelihoods.
“You are talented, and we have seen your great work during the tour. I encourage you to go beyond these competitions and make use of the knowledge and expertise gained to start your own businesses. It is indeed possible,” she said.
The competition was held under the theme “Unity, Faith, Empowerment, Tourism: Tose Tirivemuno”.
Dr Mnangagwa said her traditional cookout initiative, introduced in 2019, was being rolled out nationwide to promote Zimbabwean cuisine, encourage healthy eating and empower different communities.
She commended Greater Harare Muslim Women Dawah for embracing the initiative, urging the organisation to make the competition an annual event.
“It is indeed a clear testament to your commitment to embracing the gastronomy tourism concept and your readiness to harness the socio-economic benefits of this transformative programme,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said gastronomy tourism was an important tool for preserving Zimbabwe’s heritage and transferring indigenous knowledge to future generations.
She said traditional foods and drinks had long played an important role in cultural gatherings and ceremonies, making their preservation essential to safeguarding national identity.
“Gastronomy tourism is a cornerstone for defining who we are as Zimbabweans and a tool for promoting and preserving our heritage, nhaka yedu, ilifa lethu,” she said.
A traditional meal comprising sadza rezviyo, fish, okra and matemba, showcasing Zimbabwe’s rich indigenous cuisine during the First Lady’s inaugural Muslim Cookout Competition in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East Province yesterday.
The First Lady said Zimbabwean cuisine was gaining international recognition, with demand extending beyond local gatherings to regional and global platforms.
Dr Mnangagwa attributed part of the country’s growing tourism appeal to its culinary heritage, saying she had been invited to several countries to showcase Zimbabwean dishes and share the country’s gastronomy experiences.
She said gastronomy tourism also had the potential to promote healthier lifestyles and help address non-communicable diseases.
The First Lady urged religious leaders to spread awareness of the initiative among their followers and encourage families to incorporate traditional foods into their daily lives.
She said the initiative complemented efforts to preserve cultural values through programmes such as Nhanga, which teaches girls about Zimbabwe’s traditions, values and norms.
Dr Mnangagwa encouraged participants to take pride in their heritage and use their skills to contribute to national development.
“Let us all be proud of who we are and be masters of our own destiny. Together, we can make the Zimbabwe that we want,” she said.
The chairlady of Greater Harare Muslim Women Dawah, Appa Zainab Ajida, said they were proud to host the First Lady in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
She said their guiding principle was that “Food is Tourism, Modesty is Fashion, Nhanga is Culture”.
“Our First Lady, we invited you to celebrate three gifts today. Through gastronomy, you teach us the importance of healthy eating. Today, we have prepared sadza (nsima), muriwo, dovi, chambo, samosas and biryani. All these dishes are halal, Zimbabwean and healthy. We are promoting gastronomy tourism.
“On fashion, Amai Mnangagwa, you teach us Ubuntu and modesty. Through Nhanga and Gota, you have become a mother of these cultural initiatives. Today, you have brought Muslim and non-Muslim girls together to learn cooking, manners, entrepreneurship and faith. If you teach a girl, you build a nation,” she said.
Appa Ajida said people from different religious and cultural backgrounds could coexist peacefully under one national identity.
A five-litre water bottle wrapped in a sack to keep the water cool using a traditional method during the First Lady’s inaugural Muslim Cookout Competition in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East Province.
“A Muslim can be a Zimbabwean, and a Zimbabwean can be a Muslim. All of us, Africans and Asians, are united under one banner of peace and submission to the will of one God,” she said.
The founder of Khalid Ally Motivationals and patron of Tose Tirivemuno, Arid Chilembwe, applauded the First Lady for uniting the nation and ensuring that no one and no place was left behind.
“This is motherly love. Your motherly love, Amai Mnangagwa, is unique in the whole world. In other nations, we witness xenophobic attacks, with brothers killing brothers because of their grandfathers’ origins.
“But here in Zimbabwe, under your leadership and that of His Excellency, we are doing the opposite. We are embracing people from all nations to build one Zimbabwe,” he said.
Winners at the gastronomy cookout expressed joy and gratitude to First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for promoting cultural diversity and embracing communities from all backgrounds.
Halima Ngunda said winning came as a pleasant surprise, as she had hardly imagined emerging victorious.
“I am truly grateful to our First Lady for remembering us as mothers and continuing to introduce initiatives that bring positive change to our lives. We appreciate her efforts to uplift us and give us opportunities to showcase our talents,” she said.
Gogo Sarah Mussah said she was delighted that the First Lady was promoting different cultures and traditions while bringing communities together.
“I am extremely happy that the First Lady embraces all cultures and traditions without discrimination. God is one, and we are all united. We are very happy that she recognises and values our traditions,” she said.
Minister Ndudzo commended First Lady Dr Mnangagwa for promoting Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage, indigenous cuisine and gastronomy tourism.
He said the First Lady’s initiatives were strengthening national identity while supporting tourism development.
Girls listen attentively as First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa imparts life-changing lessons during a nhanga session in Mahusekwa yesterday.
“Your tireless efforts in preserving our culture and heritage are an inspiration to us all,” he said.
Minister Ndudzo praised the Nhanga programme for instilling cultural values in young girls and applauded the Muslim community for supporting the initiative and promoting gastronomy tourism in Mashonaland East Province.
The Minister said the initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 and could enhance tourism’s contribution to the provincial economy.
“Your passionate advocacy for our indigenous cuisine and traditional dress has not only put Zimbabwe on the map but has also restored a sense of pride in our unique cultural identity,” he said.
The chairperson of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe, Sheikh Ishmail Duwa, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for the programme, which aligns with the community’s traditional practice of Chinamwari.
Sheikh Duwa also thanked the First Lady for promoting healthy eating through the gastronomy initiative.
“We sincerely thank our First Lady for embracing our culture and promoting healthy eating.
“What she has taught us is equally important to our community, as we also value the traditional practice of Chinamwari, through which young people who have reached puberty are taken to a camp and taught about adult life. She is a mother to the nation who works with everyone without discrimination.”
