Zimbabwe has unveiled plans to establish itself as the gastronomy capital of Africa.
Speaking at a provincial traditional cookout competition in Harare, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi said Zimbabwe was determined to grow its gastronomy offering. To this end, the country will host the first-ever UN Tourism Africa Gastronomy Conference in July.
UN Tourism has held eight World Forums on Gastronomy Tourism over the years – four times in Spain and once in Belgium, Japan, Peru and Thailand.
This year, UN Tourism will hold two new regionally focused gastronomy forums, one in Zimbabwe for the African region and the other in the Philippines for the Asia-Pacific region.
Minister Rwodzi also revealed plans to extend the traditional cookout competitions to all Zimbabwe’s provinces. As she explained, these competitions were set to play a crucial role in stimulating the growth and promotion of the country’s gastronomy, thereby contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s development.
“All African countries are invited to showcase their traditional cuisine during this period. It is evident that Zimbabwe has gone to another level in terms of promoting gastronomy tourism. Apart from being served in hotels and restaurants, the Zimbabwe traditional foods have diffused into social and economic gatherings as well as regional and international markets,” said Rwodzi.
