Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
TOURISM and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi has enjoined Zimbabweans to seize opportunities arising from the country’s growing status as a premier global tourist destination.
Speaking on Wednesday at the First Lady Amai Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Provincial Cookout Competition at Masvingo Polytechnic, the Minister expressed optimism about Zimbabwe’s rich tourism potential, describing heritage-based tourism as a low-hanging fruit that could help expand the local sector.
She said heritage-based tourism should anchor the nation’s march towards an upper middle-income society, further growing the tourism sector and maintaining its niche as a major contributor to gross domestic product (GDP).
Minister Rwodzi paid tribute to President Mnangagwa for championing heritage-based tourism through his Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo mantra, which prioritises inward-looking solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges.
Zimbabwe was last year adjudged the best global tourism destination, she noted, adding that more opportunities to grow the sector further lie in heritage-based tourism.
“I specifically want to thank President Mnangagwa, who has been at the forefront of promoting heritage-based tourism through his ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ mantra, which has earned global acclaim,” Minister Rwodzi said.
“The President is often asked how he hopes to achieve Vision 2030 – an upper middle-income society by 2030 – while the country is under sanctions. He quickly points to heritage-based tourism as part of the drivers to making Zimbabwe a prosperous middle-income society.”
The Minister said there was scope to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP. The sector last year contributed 10 percent, placing it alongside mining and agriculture as a cardinal pillar of the economy. She added that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector could easily become a US$10 billion industry if the abundant opportunities in heritage-based tourism were fully exploited.
Minister Rwodzi also lauded the First Lady for being the first to inspire the nation to explore opportunities in gastronomy tourism. The First Lady, who is also the patron of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, should be applauded for putting the local gastronomy industry on the global map, she said.
According to Minister Rwodzi, the First Lady is very passionate about heritage-based tourism and holds academic qualifications with a bias towards tourism, hence her immense contribution to developing the sector into a major pillar of the national economy.
“Our First Lady and Patron deserves credit for the important role she played in developing gastronomy tourism in Zimbabwe. She is the force and inspiration behind gastronomy tourism, which kicked off in earnest in 2019 when Amai’s Traditional Cookout competitions were first introduced, before a COVID-19-induced hiatus,” said Minister Rwodzi.
The competitions resumed in 2021 after the pandemic lull, with the First Lady leading from the front in taking Zimbabwe’s gastronomy wealth to the world.
“The First Lady is the author of gastronomy tourism. She conceived the idea of showcasing our local food to the global market through what is called gastronomy tourism. She is a visionary who saw beyond, and Zimbabwe is now a giant in the global gastronomy industry thanks to the First Lady. We must applaud her.”
Minister Rwodzi also credited the First Lady for introducing the national dress, which has now given Zimbabweans a distinct identity across the globe.
“We must turn local and come up with food made from ingredients found locally. That is our heritage. Let us make wines, juices and food from locally available ingredients so that we give visitors a truly Zimbabwean experience.”
She also spoke about this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, which will be hosted by Masvingo province. She challenged communities to use the once-in-a-lifetime event to showcase the province’s heritage‑based tourism prospects. The expo will be held in Masvingo from September 9 to 12, following a new thrust by the Second Republic to decentralise national events to provinces in the spirit of “leaving no one and no place behind.” Last year, the expo was held in Manicaland province.
Minister Rwodzi noted that while Zimbabwe is now a globally renowned tourism destination, the Second Republic also wants to unlock the huge potential in domestic tourism by developing infrastructure to allow more Zimbabweans to conveniently visit local attraction spots.
In his address at the same gathering, Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira hailed the tourism sector’s contribution to the provincial economy. He noted that Masvingo is eyeing a US$8 billion GDP by 2030, partly thanks to the vast potential in the tourism sector.
The Amai’s Masvingo Provincial Cookout Competition saw Great Zimbabwe Hotel chef Mr Ignatius Marekera declared the overall winner. He will represent the province in the national competitions.
