President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Dr Auxillia Receive Awards At Regional Gastronomy Forum

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, have received awards at the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism.

The event, which celebrates food tourism, kicked off today in the resort town of Victoria Falls and will end on Sunday, July 28. The First Lady of Serbia, H.E. Tamara Vučić, the First Lady of Angola, H.E. Ana Dias Lourenço and the United National Tourism Secretary General, H.E. Zurab Pololikashvili, attended the event.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Dr Auxillia Receive Award At The Gastronomy Forum

President Mnangagwa’s Communications revealed:

“The UN acknowledged the work being done by the First Lady in promoting gastronomy with an award. The President was given 100 scholarships in tourism and culinary for his support in addition to the 100 that were given to the First Lady to empower youth in the sector.”

The First Lady is promoting Zimbabwe’s unique food culture and explained her drive at the event:

“Tourism, as you are all aware, has evolved from mere holidaying; many countries now rely on Tourism as their major economic driver. My Gastronomy journey was inspired by passion to improve the livelihoods of our people. Today, Zimbabwe continues with the journey on raising awareness of our traditional foods and their medicinal value.”

Gastronomy Tourism is travel that focuses on indulging and learning about a destination’s food culture, regional cuisine, and culinary customs.

Zimbabwe earned US$1,1 billion in 2023, a 22 per cent increase from 2022. In 2017, SADC recorded US$19.4 billion of its combined GDP.

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN body to build an African Tourism and Culinary Academy in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

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