By Margaret Kamba 

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honorable Barbara Rwodzi says Zimbabwe's gastronomy industry is a showcase waiting to be explored.

Gastronomy tourists travel all over the world to experience the different types of local and traditional cuisine.

 This industy has been well championed by Zimbabwe's First Lady and ZANU PF Secretary for Environment and Tourism, Her Excellency, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa whose passion for promoting local cuisine has seen her running countrywide competition of such a nature.

During these competitions, women cook the local cuisine found in their areas, and these have seen the promotion of not only these foods but their appreciation. 

Such foods as amatshakada (samp) mixed with peanut butter, madora, umxhanxa, inopi, sadza re mhunga and matemba are just but a few local dishes that are not only being passed down generations as indigenous knowledge but are helping lower non-communicable diseases currently bedevilling the country.

Speaking at the WTM 2023, Minister Rwodzi said the gastronomy showcase allows for people to think outside the box on the endless opportunities of presenting the local cuisine.

"Imagine how a baobab can produce a juice and can produce a dessert. Imagine how wild fruits produce wine in our own production. Imagine how we can innovate and make it look like a global dish that can be served to anyone. It's a showcase and we take pride in our local food."

Over the past two years, it has been shown that at least 93 percent of tourists have at least one unique food or drink activity. Food tourism statistics show that 81 percent of people think that food helps them understand a culture. Gastro tourism is therefore on the rise as 83 percent of people like to learn about local food and drink whilst traveling.