Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa on Tuesday this week launched the inaugural Zim Food and Cultural Festival to be held from 23 to 25 May 2019 in Harare.
The festival will showcase various traditional foods, native languages, arts, crafts, music, and musical instruments, fashion, fabric, furniture, traditional healing methods and medicines, cultural practices and social activities, among others
“I am therefore happy to launch the inaugural Zim Food & Culture Festival to be held from 23 to 25 May 2019 at the Harare Gardens,” the First Lady said.
“It is my sincere hope that this platform will afford us an opportunity to celebrate our authentic Zimbabwean traditional way of living.”
The President’s wife also said that the festival will complement the Government’s efforts to enhance community engagement and increase community awareness on cultural issues.
“I have travelled to so many countries and some nations have embraced their culture and can be easily identified, during this festival I am hoping that many activities that we will be having will be our first step to recollecting our identity,” the First Lady said.
“I hope that through the festival both the young and old will be reconnected or introduced to a truly Zimbabwean way of life.”
“In addition the event will afford us an opportunity to embrace our cultural diversity, promote domestic tourism, promote cultural food consumption and healthy eating, promote social cohesion while bridging the cultural divide and more importantly preserve Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage.”
Chief Operating Officer Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Givemore Chidzidzi, speaking during the launch said festivals and events have quickly become a powerful tool whose economic impact on tourism arises principally from the vast consumption of tourism related services.
“In December 2018 we measured a significant increase of arrivals,” Chidzidzi said. “Up to 53 800 thronged Victoria Falls emerging between all boarder posts in Victoria Falls.”
“A huge estimate of this number was attracted by the Victoria Falls Carnival and carnival attendees consumed tourism products such as inbound and intra city travel, visa fees, accommodation, food consumption, souvenir shopping, admission to tourism attractions& advertising during the festival.”
The launch of the Food and Culture Festival marks the beginning of our journey together as we endeavor to celebrate and preserve our culture.