Connect with us

Slider

Chefs lead the charge for African gastronomy federation at UN tourism forum

Published

on

BY BAYANDA NKATHA

The United Nations (UN Tourism) Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa concluded on a high note in Victoria Falls, with calls for the establishment of a continental federation to promote local cuisines.

Advertisement

From Friday to Sunday, the resort city of Victoria Falls hosted a diverse range of tourism stakeholders, including UN Tourism officials, government ministers, tourism players, traditional leaders, and government departments.

President Mnangagwa was the guest of honor at Friday’s official opening, which was attended by three First Ladies: Auxilia Mnangagwa and her counterparts from Angola and Serbia.

At the forum, delegates – mostly chefs, restaurant owners, and hospitality industry operators – emphasized the need for collaboration in Africa to promote gastronomy.

Advertisement

Carl Joshua Ncube, a chef who once resided in Victoria Falls, called for the free movement of cuisines across borders.

“We have to remove borders if we are to address the challenges that we are experiencing in terms of gastronomy in Africa,” he urged.

“We can’t be saying this is Ethiopian food, this is Zimbabwean food. Food in Africa is not just something you put on our tables, it is part of our religions, our culture.”

Advertisement

Chef Mounir El Arem from Tunisia stressed that collaboration will make gastronomy more durable.

“To promote African gastronomy, we need to make an international appeal for a federation of cuisine Africa,”

“Countries need to have a federation of African cuisine, and my message to chefs is that let’s wear that white shirt everywhere.”

Advertisement

Chef Elijah Amoo Addo from Ghana highlighted the need to change the perception of chefs as uneducated.

“Chefs are doctors in the kitchen, as we have diverse knowledge on the nutritional value of the foods we have.”

He also emphasized the challenges posed by tight borders.

Advertisement

“One challenge that we face as Africa in the gastronomy has to do with tight borders. It is easy for me to travel to Europe to explore the economy and culture there than to travel across the borders within Africa, mostly due to visa issues. These challenges hinder the promotion of gastronomy on our continent, and there is a very important need for us to work together to break these borders in order to choose and use our ingredients within and across borders.”

Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi closed the event, stating that it marked the beginning of bigger things in African gastronomy.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

RemitHope launches “100 for 10” campaign to raise $100K for grassroots organisations across Africa

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

RemitHope, a pioneering fintech social enterprise – founded by global philanthropist and social entrepreneur Tsitsi Masiyiwa – has launched a bold campaign to raise US$100 000 in just 60 days for 10 grassroots organisations serving some of Africa’s most vulnerable communities.

Advertisement

The campaign – themed “100 for 10” – seeks to channel life-changing support to organisations on the frontlines of health, education, gender equity and community resilience.

The 10 beneficiaries span nine African countries, including Cancerserve (Zimbabwe), Cáritas Regional De Chokwe (Mozambique), Empowered Girls (Tanzania), Ewang’an Nadede Advocacy Initiative (Kenya), Child Restoration Outreach (Uganda), Hands of Hope (Zimbabwe), Bana Ba Metsi (Botswana), Njira Impact (Malawi), Phelisanong Children’s Centre (Lesotho) and Refugee Children’s Project (South Africa).

“The 100 for 10 campaign is intended to harness the transforming power of small acts of generosity into life-changing opportunities for communities too often overlooked. And every dollar given delivers hope, dignity, and the promise of progress,” Mrs Masiyiwa said.

Advertisement

Running from September 15 to November 15, 2025, the campaign pivots RemitHope’s unique model of transparency, real-time storytelling and direct funding to vetted local partners, ensuring every contribution makes a measurable difference.

In a powerful show of commitment, and leveraging its network of donors and partners, RemitHope has pledged to match every donation given, dollar-for-dollar – effectively doubling the impact.

“If you give $5 it becomes $10, give US$50 and it becomes US$100. This is multiplying hope, opportunities, and futures with every dollar donated,” she said.

Advertisement

The campaign builds on RemitHope’s recent success, where the platform raised over US$81 000 in funding to rebuild Mt Selinda Orphanage in Zimbabwe after a devastating fire swept through the institution.

That effort demonstrated RemitHope’s unique ability to mobilise rapidly, scale generosity and deliver urgent impact.

“We’ve witnessed how extraordinary things happen when people unite in moments of crisis. And now, with 100 for 10, we are channelling that same spirit beyond emergencies, for the long journey of community-led development,” Mrs Masiyiwa said.

Advertisement

RemitHope seeks to unlock the transformative potential of diaspora remittances – redirecting a portion of the more than US$90 billion sent to Africa annually, into structured, high-impact community giving.

By blending trust, technology and targeted generosity, RemitHope aims to mobilise US$50 million for grassroots organisations over the next five years.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

In the community

Avoid nightime movement and stoning elephants, communities told

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Following a recent spate of human-wildlife conflict incidents, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo has urged communities to exercise caution when encountering wild animals.

Advertisement

Farawo emphasized the importance of avoiding confrontations with elephants, particularly when they encroach into community areas. “We would like to urge members of the communities to avoid throwing stones at elephants,” he said. “This action agitates them, leading to attacks on people.”

In addition to avoiding confrontations, Farawo advised community members to minimize movement at night, as this is when wild animals are most active. “We would like to urge communities to avoid moving at night to minimize casualties,” he said.

Farawo’s comments come after a 79-year-old man from Hwange was killed by an elephant yesterday. The incident is still under investigation by rangers. This is the second fatal incident in the area, following the death of another man who was attacked by an elephant while on his way to work in Hwange town several weeks ago.

Advertisement

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

In the community

Elephant attack claims life of 79-year-old man in Mbizha

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

A 79-year-old man from Mbizha village met a tragic end yesterday when he was killed by a stray elephant, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Advertisement

Zimbabwe Parks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the incident, saying, “We confirm the sad and unfortunate incident that happened today where a 79-year-old man lost his life.”

The attack occurred four kilometers away from the community, although the exact time of the incident was not disclosed.

This latest incident brings the total number of human deaths caused by wild animals to 40 this year, with over 55 people injured, according to statistics from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority as of last month.

Advertisement

Since 2019, over 370 people have been killed and 453 injured in similar incidents, highlighting the ongoing concern of human-wildlife conflict in the country.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage