By Online Desk
Mashonaland West Amai’s Provincial Cookout Competitions were held at Chinhoyi University of Technology yesterday.
The Cookout Competitions saw students and professional chefs showcasing their cuisine prowess in an initiative aimed at growing Gastronomy Tourism in Zimbabwe.
In a speech read on her behalf by her deputy Tongai Mnangagwa, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi hailed First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for pioneering the initiative of promoting Zimbabwean Gastronomy saying its not only promoting tourism but is beneficial to the people of Zimbabwe given the health benefits of the food.
Speaking at the same event in a speech read on his behalf his deputy Simelisizwe Sibanda, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira urged Zimbabweans to embrace local traditional foods, saying it promotes national culture and also curbs diseases as it is healthy.
The event was also attended by Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo who highlighted that her province has an array of tourist attractions such as Chinhoyi Caves, National parks, Wildlife, Lake Kariba and others.
Meanwhile Damaresi Zulu from Zvimba District won the Mashonaland West Amai’s Traditional Cookout (Professionals) while Allan Gadzikwa is clinched the Amai’s Traditional Cookout Mashonaland West (Students) Competition and will represent the province to the national competitions.
Zimbabwe is set to host the first UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa from 26-28 July this year in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
