By Desire Tshuma
Harare — Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields was filled with songs , dance, and the aroma of traditional dishes as Johane Masowe we Chishanu members from all provinces gathered for a cook-out competition under First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa’s gastronomy tourism program.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Barbara Rwodzi, representing the First Lady, said bringing churches into the initiative would unify the nation and ensure economic benefits from religious tourism flow directly into congregations.
“We are here today to bring in the churches into the cook-out competition for gastronomy tourism,” Minister Rwodzi said. “This is a program that The First Lady initiated in 2019 and it is about six years now running, and we have seen that the United Nations of Tourism has honored her excellence for this work.”
She added that UNESCO had also recognized the First Lady “about bringing back culture and heritage to the people of Zimbabwe, to our own country.”
In line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra of ‘Leaving no one and no place behind,’ People With Disabilities participated in the competition and were among the prize winners. Their entries were commended by judges for authenticity, taste, and creative use of indigenous ingredients, earning cheers from the crowd.
“We know the churches are the ones that initiate peace, that also initiate unification amongst tribes, amongst people, cutting across the whole country. And we know what does that the best is through food,” Minister Rwodzi said.
She noted that large church gatherings — some lasting four to seven days — already boost domestic tourism as members travel, eat, sleep, and buy in host communities. “But what exactly is going back into the churches is very, very important. So the First Lady then guided us and told us to now involve the churches,” she explained.
Through training by the Ministry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, congregants can now “cook at a high level whereby its own congregation can buy from their own people, so that the money also circulates within the churches.”
Johane Masowe we Chishanu leader Madzibaba Moses thanked the First Lady for including the church in the program.
“We want to thank Amai, Dr. Auxilia Mnangagwa, for this cook-out initiative. She has remembered the church and shown us that our culture and our food have value,” Madzibaba Moses said. “When our people cook and sell during gatherings, it uplifts families. This program unites us as Vapositori and teaches our children to be proud of our traditional dishes.”
Chief Gwesela from Gokwe, who was also in attendance, praised the initiative for empowering rural communities.
“This gastronomy program by our First Lady is bringing dignity back to our traditional foods. In Gokwe we grow small grains, and now our women see that they can cook them and earn a living,” Chief Gwesela said. “We thank Amai for thinking of every corner of Zimbabwe. This is real devolution at work.”
Minister Rwodzi recognized church elders for their role in maintaining order and discipline, presenting them with food hampers “for their work of instilling discipline among the church.”
Best cooks across several categories walked away with prizes, with winners drawn from all provinces. The competition showcased Zimbabwe’s culinary diversity and the skill gained through ZTA training.
Minister Rwodzi confirmed that preparations now shift to the Midlands. “This year the national cook-out competition will be held in Gweru,” she announced.
Launched in 2019, the First Lady’s gastronomy tourism program promotes traditional Zimbabwean cuisine as a tourism product and a tool for empowerment, peace building, and cultural preservation.