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Langalakhe Mabena
Rural BnB — a project that is dedicated to promoting rural tourism and empowering rural communities in various forms, will be among the participants at the United Nations Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa set for 26 to 28 July 2024 at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls.
President Mnangagwa will officially open the event and deliver the Keynote Address. Participants will be drawn from the Sadc region and beyond. The President and the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, will be honoured by UN Tourism for their outstanding achievements in driving the gastronomy tourism initiative in Zimbabwe and Africa at large.
A concept by comedian and Chef Carl Joshua Ncube, Rural BnB is an online platform that connects travellers with unique and authentic accommodation options in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. It also offers traditional culinary services, especially to tourists.
Ncube said he was extremely excited to be part of the forum. He hopes to make contributions at the forum that celebrates the past, present, and future of Zimbabwean food.“As Rural BnB we get to talk about our innovation to the world. We are always excited about new ways to represent our beautiful country.
“To be part of the forum is such a huge opportunity for our work to build up rural economies around tourism products like food, recipe development and export processing.“I honestly have to thank our First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for being the driving force in bringing our traditional foods into the mainstream, this has been a huge boost to a voice that needed amplification.
“To the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industries, I say thank you for the opportunity. Minister Barbara Rwodzi’s approach to tourism clusters has allowed the smaller players like Rural BnB to be able to structure our big ideas and be on an organised path to implementation.
“I have no doubts that this is a huge milestone for me, our company, and the rural communities we represent. “I look forward to meeting other chefs from around the world, meeting dignitaries present, and of course to showcase in front of the First Lady of Zimbabwe, now that’s my biggest highlight,” said Ncube.
Online Reporter