admin
Lifestyle Reporters
Longcheng Plaza shopping mall, today hosts a unique event that sets out to embrace Zimbabwe’s diversity through a cultural exchange and food fare festival.
The fiesta will feature local and foreign dishes at the Chinese themed structural showcase next to the National Sports Stadium.
Longcheng Plaza is the latest of Zimbabwe’s shopping malls with a space that is dominated by the Ivato hypermarkets which offer everything from provisions, food, appliances to furniture.
There is a children’s play centre at the mall which has made it a favourite destination for many families especially over the weekend and after hours.
The $84 million plaza which opened to the public last year in December, has an area of 138 000 square metres comprising of retail and office space that has since attracted tenants from various economic sectors including a huge international supermarket, restaurants, a gym, night clubs.
Not only will the festival showcase different nationalities’ costumes and cuisine, but a fun filled entertainment programme has also been lined up to celebrate cultural diversity and heritage among the populace.
Tynwald Primary School, Avondale Primary, Borrowdale Primary, the University of Zimbabwe and traditional singer Brian Kadengu are all expected to perform at the shopping mall where people have been urged to dress according to their cultures.
But perhaps the highlight of the day will be the nationally acclaimed Flip floppers dance group. The group of youths will be exhibiting the dexterous agility that has seen them win several notable awards including one at HIFA.
The organisers of the show say that the event which is set to become an annual one is about raising awareness and appreciation of the different people who live within the country. It is about knowing one’s neighbours, learning to love their difference and getting to familiarise them with one’s own culture. It is also about encouraging everyone to love who they are without judging everyone else through generalised stereotyping.
“Zimbabwe is a nation with a lot of diversity and we acknowledge that hence our plans to host the Cultural Exchange and Food Fare Festival.
“We have taken a mandate as Longcheng Plaza to promote the Zimbabwean culture and that of our brothers and sisters we are living with here in Zimbabwe.
“We would like to encourage our children, youths and all the people living in Zimbabwe to be proud of their cultures and heritages and to understand and have knowledge of the different cultures of the different nations who are also in Zimbabwe,” said Shingirai Muzawazi marketing manager of the plaza.
In the wake of global concerns regarding the decline in cultural diversity, the focus has now been shifted to addressing dying languages and urbanisation and the organisers have resolved to help address this by celebrating and sharing experiences.
The fun day that is expected to be graced by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora will showcase exhibitions of African arts and craft, folklore and religion from different countries, different cultural dressing, Zimbabwean, Chinese, Arabian, Portuguese, Indian and western food and drinks, music from various continents and different languages.
Muzawazi said that Zimbabwe’s hospitality was outstanding as evidenced by the various nationalities that are resident in the country and were living in harmony.
“Zimbabwe is a country well known for its culture and norms. It is a pride for its citizens as their culture and heritage is well preserved and treasured and one of the country’s many glories is the ability to live well with many people from different countries.
“As Longcheng Plaza we have decided to celebrate this warm hospitality and impressive diversity in Zimbabwe.”
The family event kicks off at 10 in the morning and ends at five in the afternoon. Entrance is free and patrons are expected to dress up in their traditional garb to gel with the spirit of the function.
Online Reporter