Participants at the recently concluded Sanganai Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo in Masvingo credited First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for championing the sector and creating opportunities for sustainable income-generating projects.

For exhibitors at this year’s expo, gastronomy offered more than an opportunity to prepare and serve food, providing a platform to showcase traditional cuisines, attract customers, market products and establish potential business partnerships.

The gastronomy tent attracted a steady stream of visitors, with participants showcasing a wide range of traditional dishes and locally produced food products.

Ms Rejoice Gundura said the programme had helped her expand her restaurant and create employment.

«Gastronomy has really changed my life because it gave me a platform to showcase what I do and to attract more customers. When I started, my restaurant was operating on a much smaller scale, but through the opportunities and exposure that came with the programme, which was initiated and supported by our First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, I have managed to expand my business. I am now able to employ others and contribute to the livelihoods of other people as well,» she said.

Ms Grace Shonhai said the expo had boosted sales while exposing businesses to new customers and potential partners.

«Since the beginning of this Sanganai Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo, we have been receiving a lot of customers and making good sales. People have been coming to the gastronomy tent to taste our food and buy our products, and this has given us a very good opportunity to market our businesses. We have also met new customers and potential business partners, so for us this has been a very successful platform. We are grateful for the opportunity because it is helping us to grow our businesses and improve our livelihoods,» she said.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Honourable Barbra Rwodzi, accompanied by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, toured the gastronomy tents, interacting with exhibitors and sampling some of the traditional cuisines on offer.

Minister Rwodzi said the programme had become an important vehicle for community empowerment.

«The gastronomy programme, which was initiated by our First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is our Patron, in 2019, has transformed the lives of many people across the country. We have seen people starting small projects, growing their businesses and creating employment from gastronomy.

«What we are witnessing here at Sanganai is a clear demonstration that our food, our culture and our traditions can be packaged as tourism products while empowering communities economically. We want to continue supporting these entrepreneurs so that they can move from small-scale operations to bigger, sustainable businesses that contribute meaningfully to the tourism economy,» she said.

As Zimbabwe diversifies its tourism products, gastronomy is being positioned to preserve traditional food practices while opening new avenues for entrepreneurship, employment and community development.