BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO
Great Zimbabwe University shined at the just ended Amai`s Traditional Provincial Cookout Competition that kicked off yesterday at Masvingo Polytechnic College. Dhuvai Mhike of Great Zimbabwe University came first while Behaviour Chinanga from the same University came third in the Professional Chefs Category. Grace Chitenhere of Great Zimbabwe University also scooped the first award in the Amai`s Traditional Masvingo Cookout Competition for the Student Category. In the Communities Category Rejoice Gundura came first.
A total of 21 highly esteemed contestants participated in this competition yesterday. Two major categories were drawn: The students Category with 12 contestants and the Professional Chefs Category with 9 contestants who all participated in one of the most distinguished and classic forms of competition that is geared towards recognising and enhancing value addition and chain to Zimbabwe`s traditional foods and cooking methods.
One of the winners, Mhike, said that it is his dream to make it up to the global level. “I am now eyeing for what no eye has seen nor ear heard. I am now preparing thoroughly for both the National and Global competitions” he said.
The National competitions are scheduled for 24 and 25 May this year in Manicaland while the World Traditional Cookout Competitions are expected to take place from the 24th up to the 26th of July this year.
Speaking during the function, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Barbara Rwodzi said that the programme was as a result of a joint operation between her Ministry and the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education for the purpose of fostering innovation and promoting Village Tourism. She stressed that the Focus is on putting the importance of communities and societies in the context of Gastronomy Tourism as a value chain. Rwodzi also emphasised on the importance of Zimbabwe heritage and Gastronomy Tourism indicating that Zimbabwe traditional foods such as roasted pumpkin seeds play a utility role in providing good health particularly for men`s backbones.
“The white people must know about Zimbabwe’s food products. Don`t give them English names. When they say they want to come here to Africa, they must remember Madora and Mapfura Wine once they step their foot into Zimbabwe. There should be an echo of these names running through their spine and bone marrow. This will help boost our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Value addition begins with us. We are the ones who determine the price,” said Rwodzi.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Amon Murwira, called on members of the public to be innovative, indicating that the origins of poverty lie in the disrespect of one`s own heritage. Murwira equated colonisation of the mindset to witchcraft.
“Heritage is what was left behind for us by our forefathers. It is a God given product. Never look down upon yourself. Let`s grow our own food. Resources become resources because of wisdom. You can live together with diamonds for decades at your disposal in your homestead, all because of lack of wisdom. That`s why your country develops faster than your knowledge systems. Knowledge, wisdom, understanding and expertise are vital in resuscitating the economy of our country. This is why we have embarked on heritage based education 5.0 which is basically on using our hands and minds in determining the destiny of this country” said Murwira.
The First Lady, Auxilia Mnangagwa, who is the patron of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality, was chosen to be the patron on the basis of merit given the fact that she has a Masters of Tourism and Hospitality degree from Switzerland. Last year, the United Nations Tourism announced that the First Lady of Zimbabwe was the first ever First Lady to define food from her own country and take it up to the level of Gastronomy Tourism. In honor of this achievement, The First Lady was then invited for a global Gastronomy Forum in Spain. She was also given 100 Scholarships for Zimbabweans to study abroad. The United Nations further awarded Zimbabwe with a first ever Gastronomy Forum to be held here in Zimbabwe from the 26th – 28th July 2024 at Victoria Falls. Above all, the United Nations Tourism pledged to construct a Gastronomy Tourism School in Victoria Falls this year as a gesture of honor to the tireless work by the First Lady.