daniel chigunwe
Walter Nyamukondiwa in Murombedzi
Zimbabweans should exploit empowerment opportunities along the gastronomy tourism value chain for improved livelihoods and employment creation, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said at the finals of the Mashonaland West provincial cookout competition.
Gastronomy tourism, coupled with rural and village tourism, Minister Rwodzi said, had the potential to lift peoples’ standards of living in line with Vision 2030 ideals.
The gastronomy tourism value chain started from farmers to the processing and then selling of indigenous foods in hotels, restaurants and lodges.
Speaking at the Mashonaland West provincial cookout competition finals in Murombedzi, Minister Rwodzi said the vision of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for a vibrant gastronomy tourism industry had opened many doors for Zimbabwe.
“In tourism we are saying let’s go with the value chain of gastronomy tourism,” she said. “It starts from the field, goes to processing of produce and then finally preparation of food in hotels, shops and restaurants. It is all part of tourism.”
Traditional foods and herbs were key in promoting healthy living and controlling some diseases. Communities should come up with ways of transforming traditional menus and herbs into a business as a way of transforming lives, especially for people in rural areas.
This year’s competitions have been expanded to include students in tertiary institutions and professional chefs so that the menus are included in hotels, restaurants, shops and lodges.
Her ministry has embarked on a rural tourism development and promotion drive where companies are started at community level to provide services at a local level.
Turning to the national dress, Minister Rwodzi said Government had reduced the price of the national cloth to US$4 with plans to provide the cloth for free when the economy improves.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo said the province had decided to rotate the hosting of the provincial finals in line with Government’s policy of leaving no one and no place behind.
“This is the first time since the inception of the competitions in 2019 to host the competitions in districts,” she said.
“It was not easy to hold the district competitions but because of people’s determination we managed.”
Winner of the competition Mrs Ratidzo Matsika hailed the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for coming up with the competition. “We thank Amai for coming up with the cookout competition because we had nowhere to showcase our skills in cooking,” she said.
Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Mercy Maruva-Dinha reiterated Government’s position that no one would die of hunger.
“We would like to say to the people that President Mnangagwa’s Government will ensure that no one starves. We have been giving out food at a small scale but this time it will cover everyone who is in need,” she said.
Government officials, Chiefs Zvimba, Chief Beperere and Chief Chirau attended the event.
Online Reporter